The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-05-19
4grirultural,
- "a Gsnesee E.rmer.
Cultivation of Indian Corn.


the American farmer, nothing need be
said il is Of more value, even in a ma
iionai paiHi Gf view, than wheat. No ce-
real cultivated in temperate latitudes at-
iords per acre so much Nutritious food for
man and beast. In one sense, too, tits
{" fallow crop" as it affords an opportuni-
~ of cleaning the land by the use Of the
horse-hoe while growing. On the rich,
new lands of the West, we may apply to
Germ what has been well said Of the tur-
nip in Great Britain" 1t is the sheet
anchor Of our agriculture. We fear,
however, that it differs from the turnip
inoncyery portant respect. Its growth
does not increase the amount Of nitrogen
or ammonia on the farm. 1t is crop for
rich land-land that is too rich, too low,
and too loose for wheat. 1t will flourish
on the best wheat land; but wheat will
not succeed well on the best corn land.
TO grow corn on land that will produce
good wheat, is not, as a general rule, to
be commended.
We have said that corn will succeed
on land too low tor wheat. This is true !;
but corn requires a dry soil Its Il mis-
take to suppose that all high land is dry
and all low land wet Mr. SWAN, near
Geneva, \. Y, who has laid over fifty
miles of Grain-tiles on his farm, found that
the highest parts of his farm required as
much again draining as the lower portions
On low land, few open bitches are often
sufficient to carry off all the water; but
on springy hillside, thorough under
draining rs necessary.
Land for corn must be dry. We re
collect walking through a magnificent
Geld of corn on the thoroughly under
drained farm Of our friend JoHN JOHN
STON. One of the underdrainS was chok-
81 up, and there the crop acas q failure.
Corn delights in loose, dry, warm soil
i 1t is surcharged with water, all the
sunshine Of our hottest summers can not
not make it warm, and all the mauurc
shat can be put on 1t will not make the
corn yield a maximum crop. In passing
along the various railroads, We have often
been saddened to see thousands of acres
Of land planted to corn which, bv little
understanding, would have produced mag
nifccnt crops of this grandest of cereals,
but which presented a miserable spectacle
Of yellow, sickly, 8tunted, half-starvcd
plants, struggling for very life, We have
ever been willing to apologize for the
shortcomings Of American farmers. We
know the difficulties under which many
If them labor We do believe them to
be, as a whole, ''iutoligent and ente. .pris-
ing" But these sickly corn fields are
well calculated to create very different
impression. We have frequently to re-
peat the German proverh-" To know is
not to be able" These farmers know
how to raise good corn, but they are not
always able to put in practice improved
methods of cultivation. Many, however,
might do better than they do The coun-
try is in an embarrassed condition. Will
ing hands can not find labor. Good crops
alone can save US from still greater power
ty and suffering. One good harvest would
set the wheels Of trade and manufacturing
industry in motion, and usher in glad
some period Of national prosperity. But
it is vain to hope for good crops without
good cultivation.
Farmers know how to raise good corn
know how to plant and cultivate. We
can do little except to urge upon them,
IS q patriotic duty, tae necessity of put
ting forth their best efforts the coming
seaSon. Our citizens and villages are
thronged with idle hands; set them to.
work Do what you can toward draining
the land. PIow it well, and prepare a
good seed-bed. Mark out the land both
ways, 50 as to plant in straight rows, and
then use the cultivator freely. DO not
suffer a weed to grow and rob the corn
Uf food and moisture. Constant stirring
Of the soil decomposcS its organic matter
and renders available the food of plants
lying latent in it, it enables it to attract
ammonia and to condcnse moisture from
,he atmosphere, while it furnishes loose
aud warm bed for the roots to grow in.
We have spent cons siderable time and
money in xperimentmenting with the
various fertilizers Of Indian corn. We
know the Importance of the subject. But
we are satisfied that, fer the country at
large, good ploictag, proper preparation
Of the tand, edrly pianti"g, aud good and
thorough qtter-culture, are of far greater
Importance. Throughout the vast corn
growing region of America, if we can re-
move stagnant water prepare the land
properly, plant in good season, and use
the horsc-hoe freely, the soil in the ma
jority of cases is rich enough to produce
fair and remunerative crops Of corn. Still,
unlike wheat and other cei eals, 1t is im-
possible to make land too rich for corn !;
and 1t should be borne in mind that it