The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-04-28


addrese,p"L l.. N. Couutrymau, Hastings, or Niuinger
Min."P
seed Corn.
There is very little good seed corn in the country
and yet it should be the aim Of every farmer to pro
cure good seed Of every kind he uses. Of course, the
only sure test is to sprout some in a box BY the stove,
and those who are not testing should begin at once,
Corn may look fair and plump, and still be unfit fol-
seed. Usually says an old Indan| corn planter, ii
the side of the kernel, in which is found the chit or
germ, is wrinkled, it is not good its being wrinkled
shows that the germ has already decayed, or has dried
down, and therefore lifeless. A good kernel when
shened from the cob, pulls out with it the natural COW
sring of the germ, and the cob when broken appears
dry and solid.
VARIEr1Es.-Which is the best kind of corn? In
determining this We must take into consideration, the
yield per acre, surety Of ripening in season, adaptedness
to climate, and availability when fed to stock, or rather
its hardness and softness; but the cost Of quality may
be easily met by the fact that corn fed to stock should
be ground, so that hardness in corn may not be an I'm.
desirable quality.
The Red cob Dent is an excellent variety for old
ground. 1t is thought by some, that it depreciates in
quality and quantity yearly, because Of its unadapted'
ness to the climate. There is foundation for this argu-
ment. 1t is a Southern production, and its acclima-
ton will result in deterioration, and experience has
gone far to confirm this assertion to be true. It has
some advantages; it is a soft corn, and if fed to stock
whole is easily masticated, and converted into fat. Yield
80 to 40 bushels per acre.
The Gross, Flint and Dent is a harder variety, and
for its beauty and vigor is worthy to take the place of
the pure Dent 1t keeps better through the winter,
and the seed corn from it, if properly attended to, may
always be relied on, and the yield is equal to the other.
The Common Yankee Flint is a hard variety, but
is a poor yielder, and is bard to husk. 1t has the ad
vantage however Of being always sure. 1t never de-
ceives, but will give from year to year its wonted crop.
1t is also a good corn for family use. Though so bushels
have been raised from an acre, 25 to 80 is the average
yield.
The Large White Flint is a very hardy, beautiful
corn. Its yield is said to be very great. Mr.. Perkins.
Of Laports, received 225 bushels of ears from 2 acres Of
land, last year, equal to Sc bushels per acre. The ears
are very long, and grow two and three on every stalk.
It has been found by experience, that it is decidedly
the best grain crop for sod, yielding Is to 30 bushels
on early breaking. It will ripen if planted the first Of
June, and is the most delicious corn for summer use
1nown.
s, The { King Philip Corn is small but natures rapidly,
in IS to 80 days under ordinary circumstances. 1t is
also peculiarly adapted for short seasons, and for late
planting. The stalks are small and low, and do not
shade the ground so much as the larger kinds; it may
therefore be planted closer together, and it is alleged by
some, that thereby it will { produce as much per acre
as most of the other kinds-and even more of sound,
heavy corn than many others
a. - at: -~>~-
Gardenlng.
There is nothing more profitable, more pleasurable
more necessary than vegetable gardening. It'll a well
known fact that a piece of land produces more from
having q greater amount Of labor put on it. 1t also
becomes constantly more fertile. sAs rich as a garden
is a common form Of speech. There is scarcely any
man so poor, in this land Of abundance, who may not
till q little spot Of earth, and raise enough Of certain
kinds Of vegetables to 6 do them for the winter. So
little regard however, is paid to the culture of the
kitchen garden, and 60 much room made for flowers,
(good for nothing unless in their proper places, and
there they are sweet indeed, that 10 early autumn there
are no prospects Of a winter supply Of vegetables.
Let Vi, suppose a family have a garden plot, &c by
Is feet, an area Of 1850 feet. A bed of Is " 15-225,
by proper care will produce S bushels Of onions. An
other Of the same size will produce 10 bushels Of beets:
Another, ditto, 10 bushels of carrots. A spot rs 25
4-625 feet, will give room for $50 heads Of cabbage
enough for summer and winter use. Space 10 y 10
100, will raise sufficient quantity Of tomatoes for winter
and summer. There is still left $3.50 feet area--nearly
three-fourths-for summer potatoes, ~squashes, cucum-
bers, green corn, turnips, &c. I have thrown out these
few hints for the benefit of those who have little land,
and who think that from that little they cannot get
enough to pay the trouble of working it. Try it. Test
the matter. Dig up your garden spot well. Lay it Of
in order, for it will take you no longer to arrange it
~tassefully. Plant seed for the most approved vegetables.
Cultivate daily by employing your leisure hours Of re-
Taxation from business. And in the autumn, instead
Of having the various good things to buy, you will
have enough for yourself, and likely a little to spare
The large farm should never have less than an acre
Of land for q garden, which should be entirely free from
i. trees of every kind these must be in their appropriate
places. Not even a frat tree should be found in the
garden. They abstract nourishment from TIE soil, and
binder that most precious element, sunlight, from the
plant beneath. Every garden ought to be sheltered
from the northern blasts by a high and light board
fence on the north, over which grape vines may be
trailed. Let it ever be borne in mind, that a garden
should be chosen for its locality rather than for its soil.
Aslope to the south is preferable, as every one will admit.
Having laid out a garden, as soon as practicable, get
a good variety of currant bushes and g~ooseberry bushes,
setting the one kind on one side, and the other kind on
another, along the fence. Make a walk around the
garden two feet vide, and on the north side, where the
J shelter Of the high board fence may be available, plant
your permanent crops, such as sage, rhubarb, strawber
ries, asparagus, raspberries, blackberries, &c., and leave
tha remainder open for the pillow. axhsHttJ
A garden should be plowed or spaded deep, and har-
rowed until thoroughly pulverized. Do this and your
vegetables will look up in time of drought. Dews will
be absorbed and converted, the light shower will have
sasareat effect, and beets, carrots, cabbage, onions aud
.5nAa,nine. can send their roots far away into the earth