Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-05-27
Rnral and domestic.
Agric e.
CORN

The discussion on the culture Of corn at the
Farmers club in Madison, or Saturday, was
full of instruction, aud very clear and conclu-
sjve on several points of the first Importance.
Any one. we think, who heard the discussion
could not help making up his mind that thor
ough preparation of the ground before plant
ing, and thorough blowing. during the season
of growing, were sure to add largely 10 the
quality and quantity of the grain The testr
mony On these points was uniform, and the ex-
periments adduced abundant. Most OF those
who gave their experience Plowed their corn
every week or ten days. Mr.. Pigg stated that
the best instrument that he had ever used for
blowing among corn was Gibbs cultivation
1t plowed deep. killed all the weeds, kept the
ground mellow and soft and left 1t level. He
thought he could raise more corn with this III
strument and do it easier than with any other.
We mention this fact because Mr.. Gibbs Is one
Of our citizens and the merits Of his instru-
ment are not fully known abroad, or even at
home. II was stated that the roots of corn,
under favorable circumstances grew to a prodi-
gious length. Mr.. Henry Smith said he had
often amused himself in examining the corn
along the Licking bottoms, after a food which
had washed the roots bare. He had measured
roots on these bottoms sirteen feet long. This
prodigious growth of the roots of corn, may
show, to some extent, the Importance of keep
iag the ground mellow, and the reason why
corn well plowed always stands a drought better
than if ground is harder. The roots have free
scope to go out after the moisture and multi
ply freely in proportion to the wants of the
plant. There seemed to be a pretty general
sspinion. too, that corn was apt to be planted
too thick. This universal experience seemed to
be that better crops and better corn were had
from what is generally regarded as a thin
planting than from the growth that is thick
Mr.. P. O'Bannen wanted his rows three and
q half feet apart and not more than three
stalks in a hill, unless the ground was very rich
aud strong, when he would have four but the
general opinion seemed to be that Mr.. OBan-
mons rule is, If anything above the mark, and
three stalks were enough It vas agreed that
land, to produce good corn, must be rich and
that it was important to manure it heavily
On some other points there was a difference of
opinion. Mr.. Andrew Taylor maintained that
corn did just as well by planting the SAINT seed
and the same field taking care to mannre,) as
by changing. Others had succeeded better by
changing the seed and rotating the crop It
was thought that the improved modes of cul-
ture which had grown into use among the bet
ter classes of farmers had increased the guam
fItg of corn grown on the sane land fully one
tkTd. Very beautiful SAMPLES of corn were
produced by Mr.. David Smith who gave a
very intelligent explanation Of the advantages
of each, which seemed to be generally concur
red in. One fact in regard to the quality of
these corns was new to US. 1t was said that
the colored corns were sweeter than white and
that cattle would uniformly turn from the
white to tie yellow. The discussion was full
ct interest to the close and is to be continued
at the next meeting, which viii be held at the
house of Mr.. Montgomery.-Newark Ameri-
can.