The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-07-26
AGRICULTURAL.

KILLING CoEN.-Thoush the time for
hoeing corn and other vegetables has pretty
much passed for the present season, vet now
is precisely the time for observing the effects
of different methods Of cultivation, and for
treasuring up their results for future use
And, though the old fashion of cobhlinc up
the earth about corn and potatoes in high
and round hills, NAV have few advocates at
the present day, yet 1t is extremely difficult
to get entirely rid of the practice and when
ever YOU tml 10y old nen TO hill your corn.
he force OF habit is 50 great that Won nav be
-ure you will havct done and the princ-
pie argument which they use for the prac-
tice. is precisely what should be used for its
opposite. The corn must be supported, they
>av. or it will blow down. Experience teach
IS exactly the reverse of this. Leave the
surface OF The field horizontal that the roofs
may run deeper in the earth. and the stocks
will not breaS off when they are Swaycd back
and forward bv the wind
At the bottom Of the last Joint of corr st ak
NAV be seen numerous little roots or teelers
which strike out into the earth all around it
10 hold it fast. And whilst the stock itself is
large, stiff and brittle. these numerous small
roots are tough and flexible. Now, if the
bottom Of the stocks be allowed to remain at
the surface these small flexible roots will
strike down into the earth. hang there and
permit the stalk 10 sway in any direction
without breaking But, if the earth is cob.
bled up few inches around the stalk, when
It becomes hard it operates as tulcrum a.
gaIDst it, and the wind breaks it off, while it
has not the flexible advantage of the small
roots below. And thcs" small roots have
much less advantage for supporting the stalk
in acobb!e hill than if they were allowed to
strike beneath the surface of level field.
Dry weather too has much less effect upon
4 level surface where all the main stalks of
vegetables stand upon such surface, than up
on field made up of cobble hills and holes
The rain naturally runs off from these cob
hle hills, and soon evaporatcs from the hol
lows, While the hills themselves, b. exposing
large, lateral, as well as a top surface. soon
become dry and are thus injured But a
level field imbibes the rain uniformly, di!lu
ses it equally, secures it beneath the surface
for the general benefit Of all that ittp world
OF fine web-work roots, which fill the whole
ground below. And now is the time. after
SO many strong westerly winds, to compare
fields cultivated in these different WAYS. and
to treasure UP their results for use in coming
wears. The broken down corn will not prob.
ably be found in level fields, but in those
made up of cobb.e hills and holes, where the
wind has broken oil the stalks over these
high hills, which from mistaken notions. have
been drawn up around them for their sup
port.
Sailing IIAY-This is now. we believe.
extensively Iracticed, and, iudicously done.
we have no doubt it is we'll. Those who are
IN the habit Of placing salt before cattle.
know that during the winter season they
VIII take bat little. \ COW consuming ton
OF hay IN the cold months. we are confident
would not consume two quarts of salt and
vet many farmers are in the habit of apply
"g f4;hf z" arts to ton. This is probably
the source OF manv OF the recent diseases a.
morg cattle. 1t leads. also, 10 the slovenly
paact'"e OF getting in the hay in dampo
partially cured state, under the idea that the
salt will preserve all IT'S virtues.
SAVE IorR PLrNs NOw-The Editor
OF the -fmertcan Igrculimist saws I'VE
begin to believe this can be done. We we're
Yesterday on the grounds of one of our best
horticulturists. and saw the application, and
have some faith in its success. Our friend
thinks there is no chance for mistake about
its efficacy. lie informed US that he applied
il last year. after the curcuIio bad begun its
ravaces and that it not only saved those
which were unstung. but many Of the plums
on which the insect had left his card ripen-
ed well. The liquid enters the opened
wound and destroys the egg This is the on
" remedy he has ever found TO avail apinst
the slippery enemy OF one OF our best fruits.
Ills recipe is, one pound OF unSacktd lime,
SIX pounds OF salt. one tarrel Of water.
The mixture is so be applied with COM
mon garden syringe or lii some other wav. -
If one application is not sufficient. repeat it.
sing lie application answered with him last
year"
DI6sOLUTION.