The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-05-21

From the American Agriculturist
Zone swallow don't make it summer" and q
few pleasant days do not make it corn planting
time. Early plated corn 10 very apt 70 fail, 70
rot 10 the ground, TO become the prey Of birds
squirrels and mice, to be ca, by the grubs, or "a
be checked or killed BY frost. Corn needs the
hee, moist weather Of the last Of May, or first
Of June. to bring it forward rapidly and vigor.
o1sly. The rhyme of some old almanac has
grown into an adsge,
''see your field in My, you'n signing away
But See 1t in June, and yoa'l sing tu.e."
Or another version Of the same iiea Is:
'Your corn in May viii make you pray,
When you See it IN June, then you'll sing tune"
The doctrine often stated that corn makes
roGts in May, 10 error, 90 far it conveys the
idea that corn will make roots faster and better
In cold rainy weather than in warm but correct
II it only iDculcates the desirableDess OF plant.
Ing 20 that the corn shall be just breaking
through the ground and ready to take advantage
Of the 6rst hot weather. Corn planted early in
Nay, and struggling for life during the first three
weeks Of its existence. will be completely outstrip.
ped by that which il planted two weeks later.
The late planted will be evener. larger. and more
productive. and We presume slsO, Just ~ early,
although in regard to this latter point, il is true
that an inferior plant will often ripen what seed
it bears earlier than which takes better bold
sf the coil, and remains green and growing a
leoger time. Corn planted north Of latitude II
deg, before the middle OF May osght not to be
nueh soaked. There is too much danger of a
ssld rain setting in which will cause the seed to
ret in the ground. But planted during or after
the third week in May, il is commonly safe
enough to soak it. II it be soaked in water con
taining blue vtriol, seeds Of smut will be de
ssroyed. A good plan ia to use common pine
tar mot coal tar, dssolving quart of tar to
gallon OF warm water, and stirring the corn in
the 6uid. Then dry it with plaster; a small
quantity Of lime may well be added to the pas-
ter, % destroy any smut. This preparation is
not only fertilizer, but renders the seed dis
tasteful to crows, blackbirds, squirrels, etc.
Corn planting implements are very desirable
and labor saving. B,lling's planter 10 one Of the
eldest and best. Il plants corn in hills or drills
q distances varying within certain limits, drops
fertilizer in the bill if desired and at the same
time plants beans between the bills and without
manure, il it be arranged for this purpose
There are doubtless other corn planters per-
Aaps equally as good or better, but with this We
are more familiar II is seldom worth while to
plant field corn before the 18th of Nav, north Of
this latitude, and at the far north it is seldom
possible. We advise planting all varieties OF
lint corn (thst is the white, and yellow, or red 8
o. 10 rowed varieties, which are the common
Asld corn Of tho northeastern States) in drills, 90
that when finally thinned out it shall average
about one stalk to 10 inches-the drills to l-2
feet or more apart, according to the kind of corn
Manure applied in the bills or drills is often Of
marked benefit, and very small quantities are Of
ten quite a. effective as larger. Even soaking
the seed in water containing nitro, or nitrate Of
soda. has great effect Stall manure. applied
o. the surface, and narrowed in, is most avala-
bic to the corn crop, whether the soil be deep
q shallow, rich or poor, hard or mellow On
very sandy laud, lightly blowing it in is better
than narrowing.