Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-03-11
Crops In Maine.

OVER One HUNDRED BUSHELS OF
Corn PER ACRE. John H. Willard, of
Wilton, Franklin Co., Maine, says:
81 have repeatedly, within few years
past, raised from 80 to 10 buohcIs Of
dry.shelled corn to the acre. All nv
farming is on small scale, but the same
cultivation would produce the same re
suits on large as on small scale, The
best crop ! ever raised was in 1853,
which was the best corn season we have
had in this vicinity for many years. The
produce that year was SIS bu. and OTIS
from half an acre. l proceed to give an
account Of the various steps pursued in
raising that crop, and shall persevere in
following the same course, or nearly,till
learn better. The soil is gravelly
loan, and the land stony. The stones
near the surface had been removed and
put into wall. AS to the component
parts ofthe soil l am as ignorant as most
farmers are respecting theirs, having no
means of ascertaining. l only know it
contains fair portion Of lime, having
previously raised good crop of wheat
on the same land The wheat was sown
on the sward newly broken up. Soon
after the wheat was cut powcd in the
stubble, and plowed very shallow, say
from two to foar inches deep, so a. 10
just cover the stubble and not disturb
the sward. In the Spring, put on six
cords Of manure, twelve to the acre, one
half in the hill. | spread the manure
and harrow ed previous to plowing; then
plowed and cross plowed about ten inch.
es deep, being little deeper than the
land was previously broke; plowed fine,
that is, in narrow turrows,not more than
two thirds the width the plow would
turn.
After narrowing furrowed the rows
straight three feet eight inches apart,
and put the hills two feet four inches
apart. Covered the manure in the hills
before dropping the corn which l put in
literally, nearly dol9le what l wanted
to grow; covered the corn thoroughly
from two to three inches deep; hoed the
corn thoroughly twice. having run a cul-
tiyator twice between the rows before
each hoeing, and having thinned the
corn to five stalks in each hill previous
to the second hoeing. by pulling up the
poorest stalks, cut the corn up at the
roots when the stalks were wilted above
the ears and green below. Cured in
shock before husking The seed was
thoroughly dried by the ears hung near
fire.
"Perhaps I should describe the manure
used. 1t was stable; part COW and part
horse, with good deal Of straw litter,
kept under cover till Spring, and one or
two hogs kept on it. The largest part
was from horses we'll grained. The
coarsest part. or last made, was first
hauled to the field aud put in heap to
ferment for the hills, the other spread
When the heap got into high state of
fermentation pitched it owe, to prevent
its burning. know i; is said that ma.
nure must be thoroughly decomposed be-
fore it is food for plarts; hence many in
fer it must be in that state when put on
the ground, but l have had the best luck
when | put it into the hill in such a
state of fermentation as to be uncomfolt-
ably hot to the feet through thick boots.
and plant and cover Immediately before
it cools. l had no potatoes. pumpkins
or beans, and but few wee Is among my
corn, for weeds are the most Improbable
crop ever raised"
We hope good many small farmers
who read this account will pursue the
same course, and raise an equally good
crop. The way to do it is simple and
itenslble. New York Tribune.