Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-03-15

mixture be used, it should be narrowed
in and rolled.
If the grass stands thin on the ground
the meadow will be greatly improved by
sowing gallon of timothy seed per
acre, and narrowing them in with the
top-dressing.
OLD FIELDs.-Old fields, being tn O.
roughly narrowed, if top-dressed with
five bushels of lime, five bushels of ashes,
one bushel of plaster, two bushels of
bone-dust, and one bushel of salt, per
acre, and shut up for a year and protected
from stock, may be converted into fair
pastures. The, top-dressing should be
narrowed in, and the ground then rolled.
PREPARATION OF Corn GRouND. The
time for preparing corn ground, must
depend upon its locality; therefore, it
would be futile to attempt to name any
Gay for the commencement of such work.
The proper time everywhere may be said
to be when the frost is out Of the ground,
and when the soil is sufficiently warm to
encourage the termination of the seed.
But though it may be, and doubtless is,
too early over great portion OF the
corn growing region to commence
ploughing, still it is time to begin
to prepare for the crop. As soon as, from
the nature of the ground, the teams can
be advantageously put to work, they
ought to be engaged in hauling ont the
manure The manure, as being removed
from the cattle and other manure yards,
prior to being put in the carts or wagons,
should be shoveled over and mixed with
plaster in the proportion if one bushel to
every 20 two-horse cart loads When
hauled out and placed in position, the
piles should be covered over with earth
and patted down SO as to prevent injury
from the weather If, when the manure
is hauled out, it be time to plough, the
manure should be evenly spread, Cat the
rate of twenty two-horse loads per acre,
as evenly as possible, and ploughcd in as
soon after being spread as practicable, in
order that as few of the volatile gases
be lost as possible to prevent. We have
named twenty two-horse loads.of manure
per acre this we deem a moderate and
safe quantity to ensure good crop, the
season being favorable; but if twice the
quantity of farm-yard manure could be
supplied, none need apprehend any dam
ger from a surfeit, as the corn-plant has
stomach like an ostrich and the appe-
tite of a London Alderman; scarcely
anything in the shape of manure comes
amiss, while its powers of digestion de-
rides the idea of rcpletion.
as to depth Of pIoughing. In all sound
land where corn may be planted-that
is, land not naturally wet, or with wet
subsoil--we 60 for deep ploughing, say
eight inches in depth thorough pulver-
ization by means of the harrow and roll
Ter. If the field be a clover-lay, or grass
sward, after manuring, it should be
| ploughed carefully and truthfully without
balks, to the depth indicated above, the
burrows should be laid fat then the roll
Ter should be passed over the field to
close up the seams, the harrow should
then be used in the direction of the fur
rows, until a fine filth be obtained
Too much pains in this respect cannot
well be taken as thorough preparation
before planting cannot be too highly val
ued; it ensures congenial bed for the
plants TO extend their roots through, and
saves much labor and time in after cul-
turc Before laying off the ground for
planting, the soil should be rolled.
For distance Of rows.--This is mat
ter which we will not pretend to settle,
as it is one of those questions which will
ever be considered debateable one. 1t
has often been mooted and discussed
but never settled; and, as we believe,
never will be. The proper distance is
to be regulated by the circumstances Of
each case-location, climate, soil, kind
of corn, are all considerations TO be
looked to in determining distance Of the
rows. SO far as our experience goes,
we have found four by three feet an ell
igible distance, leaving at the time OF
thinning out, three of the best stalks in
each hill; but to support that number
of stalks and ensure their bearing fine,
well-flled ears, generous manuring and
clearly culture arc indispensable.
As 10 tie appttcation Of lime to the
earn crop.-With regard to the applca-
ton of lime to the corn crop, we do not
know that we can perform more ac-
ceptable service to our patrons than by
transcribing the views Of DR.. William
Darlington, of West Chester, Pa, upon
the subject. DR.. D., besides being a
practical farmer, and good one, possess
ses as much scientific knowledge as any
other gentleman in our country, and is
withal, passionately devoted TO the cause
of agriculture. Hence, the experience
Of such gentleman, is invaluable, be-
cause it comes commended to US by one
eminently qualified to advise, and whose
identity with the farming interests, and
whose predictions afford us the strong
est guarantee that could be asked for,
that his opinions are founded in honesty.
lie says:
"Thc quantity Of lime per acre which
can be used advantageously varies with
the condition and original character Of
the soil. Highly improved land will
bear heavier dressing than poor land.
On soil of medium condition, the usual
dressing is 40 or so bushels per acre. -
A deep rich soil, or limestone land in
the great valley, will receive 70 to 80
(and ! am told even 1907 bushels to the
acre, with advantage. On very poor
land, 20 to 80 bushels per acre is deemed
most advantageous to commence Nth. -