The Hillsborough recorder., 1856-05-07
GUa@G yae0H0Mv,
From the Tennessee Farmer.
HOEING CORN.


The objects ol hoeng and working the soil
about corn are, first, to destroy ali weeds:
and, secondly, to loosen the soil at the sur.
face, that il may the more readily absorb
dews and rain which fall upon ii, and nre-
vent the evaporation Of moisture, which
takes place much sooner when the soil is hard
than when il is kept loose aud mellow. The
practice so prevalent Of deep cultivation by
the plough between rows Of corn is not TO be
recommended. Ii the ground has been pro-
perry prepared before planting, when not too
wet, il will not need this additional oosenine.
After the corn has arrived at tile usual size
for hoeing, the soil should only be disturbed
al The surface; Tor as the plants increase in
size, they send out long fibrous thread like
roots 10 all directions, which branch every
way, and run all over the ground; and 1t IS
through these that they receive large nor.
tiun Of their Bourishment. To break or in
ljpre these would, therefore, materially re-
lard the growth Of the plants by cutting oil
their accustomed supply Of fool. And yet,
surprising as u may seem, a notion Is very
prevalent that 1t is sertcable to break Tie
r0ots ol corn. But what should we think oi
such reasoning as this were il applied 10 an
imals! y hat should We think If il we're de-
clared 70 be serviceable 10 cattle to deprive
them Of their supply nf food: Or, as writer
some where asks: What would be thought ol
the reason Of man who should declare il as
his npininn that tile best way TO latten bull
lock is to wound his tongue, break his teeth.
and batter his jaws whenever lie reached
forward his head for food! Why then treat
plants, which as much as animals require
their proper nourishmeni, in the same way:
Hilling corn We wUuid also disappr0ve,
although it ls very commonly prattisei. Not
unirequenlly in performing This operation all
the luosc aud mellow earth Is seraped away
irnm between the rows. and heaped up around
the plants, forming sort Of roof about them,
throwing oil the rain, which runs down into
the hard soil thus laid bare at the bottom of
the burrows, which the firstt weather bakrs
- the last degree uf hardness, ST. that The
roots can receive no moisture here, and little
within these artificial pyramids. reason
i assigned IN fayor Of hilling-that il makes
the corn stand hrmer and more erect, and
less liable 10 be broken down bY the wind.
This may be the case when the plants are
small, and do not need any such help; but
when they attain height Of several feet, and
are loaded with leaves and ears, ii must be
evident tl,at little lunse earth piled about
the roots Il totally insufficient lpr such d sur.
pose. u Is The strong blacing reuts which
radiaic frOm tie stalk that are Il snppurt ii
ihere; aud 10 bury these roots deep under
the surface while thes a-e growing, aud thus
shut nut from them bnih heat and air, anil
render them both weak and tender, muuld
only help u bring about the very thing We
wish e. prevent.
II Is important to farmers that this subject
bc we'll understood; for little knowledge
may save many weary steps, and be the
meas u IN abundant crop in tie bargain; but
il any farmers doubt The accuracy oI our
reasoning. Wc would recommend them 10
test i BY experiment: by ploughing and bill.
ling high nne part uf their corn, and by using
the cultisator and appling The same amount
81 labor III mcllpwing The ilat surface Of tic
uther, and then measure the results. Anu
here, again, We Mnuld urge upun every iar,
mcr Who makes any such experiments. The
tprapriets VI Communicating them to lii broth
frlarmers and The public, through lie column,
u the Farmer.