Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-08-05
AGrtruLturaL.
From the New ENGLAND FARMER.
CULTIVATION or CORN AND

HY FREDERICK HoLBBooK.
Benefits of Cros. Culhyauur-Efccts Of different Fer
ulgcrs-Corn NOT calculated 20 follow Tufnips or
Buckuhoot--Guauo for Oats--Oats and Grass--liuauo
ou Grass.
Ny FnlrND Mn. BRowN IL have been
looking about in the fields here to-day, OBJ
serving tine modes of cultivation. DC. End
now send YOU a few notes about such things
as most interested me in the course Of my
tramp.
In passing through five or six cornfelds.
was impressed anew with the advantages one
derives from having the rows of corn marked
out both ways of the field. so as 20 use the
horse and cuti7ator each way between the
rows. at hooing time. Indeed. if the land
gets foul with grass and weeds, or is at all
inclined to be heavy and TO pack close, or to
crust over after a rain, the horse and cultiya-
tor may be adyantagcously used twice in
row, each way, at each hoeing BY using the
horse and culiivator thus thoroughly, the
land is worked up fine and mellow, the labor
of hand d-hocing is very much lessened, and
the Young corn grows all the more rapidly,
and is more "stocky' and healthy, for having
the soil thus completely stirred mp and It's
particles changed about and mixed anew or
If the manure is near the surface, within
reach Of the cultiyator having that stirred
abou; and brought in contact with other or
different particles Of the soil. Tho horse and
cultiyator can do very much more for the
crop, in the way of melowing and enliven-
ing the soil, and odectually roofing mp grass
and weeds between the hills, than can be done
by man with the hand-hoe. The hand-hoe is
indeed quite necessary for dressing out the
hills and shaping the earth properly about the
young corn plants, but beyond that the horse
and cultvator are the most serviceablo to the
crop. So far as ! can form an estimate, from
considerable particular observation of the eff
tects of cultivatng or thoroughly stirring the
ground, | am inclined TO think one may re-
aize from five to ten bushels more Of corn to
the acre, by the thorough use Of the horse
and cutivator between rows running each way
Of the field, than he would obtain if he work
ed the land only one way. all other things, as
10 land. manure &c, being equal, The gain
in the crop by thoroughly working both ways,
over what could be realized by working only
way of the field, will be somewhat in proper
ton TO the natural tendency of the land to
pack closely and crust on the surface, or to
bear weeds and grass between the hills. In
any case. however. let the character of the
land be as it may, the saving of expense IN
cultivation will be considerable by working
the land both ways, with the horse and a good
sharp cultivator, rather than by digging so
much between the hills of corn with the
hand-hoc. as must necessarily be done if the
cultivator is used only one way Of the field
l have repeatedly observed in my own
cornfeds that whore they happened to run
out at either end in a long triangular point,
p so that the narrowest part was too narrow to
bother with so short rows crosswise the field,
and therefore this end was only worked with
n the horse and cultivator the long way, while
the rest of the field was worked in rows both
!, ways, the corn on the narrow end would not
grow SO fast the first of the season, nor yield
t. so large ears at harvest, that on the rest OF
= the field.
Notwithstanding the fine theory that may
be stated as TO the advantages of level culti-
y walton Of the ground for the corn crop, must
still say that | do like good broad hills,-
i especially if the land is inclined to pack or
= to crust over. well shaped, mellow hill,
= not raised too high and peaked, operates to
], send the corn forward rapidly, and make II
stocky and stout.
e Several corn-feds have been examined to-
2. day, which have dressing OF superphosphat6
of lime in the hills. My neghbor, r. Brad
ley, Esq, has several acres of corn, dressed
y with heavy coat Of manure, broadcast, ant
tablespoonful of superphosphate in eacl
hill. His corn is large and vigorous for tn,
is season, and of splendid color On one felC
p he used superphosphate in a part of the hills
D. unleached ashes in another part, and plaste
in the remainder That portion of the corr
itn dressed with the superphosphate is decidedl
u. superior in size and color to those portion
nd dressed with ashes and plaster; and it ap
IN pears now as If this superiority might holt
C. through the season. Goes supcrphosphat
was used. 1t seems to be very strong ma
nure, and needs a good covering of eartl
before dropping the seed-corn over it, DC
ih casionally, in a hill, where the superphos
on phate did not happen to get well covered be
IT. fore planting the seed, the corn was dilator
Is, about coming up and growing, at frst,-th
at superphosphote being in too close contae
with it and eating off the little tap roots a
fast as they shot out. But at length the LAT