The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-04-11
Volume lS.

fore il Is necessary to plow it, and while the
permanent pasture is too young. In this
latitude, il sheep are fed on 1t in mild weather
through the Winter, they will give it an ex-
cellent coat Of manure. In blowing, leave
as few dead burrows in the field as possible.
II the ground is nearly level and the shape OF
the field will permit, the best plan is to begin
in the middle and throw the iurrow inward
ly, leaving furrow oil around the outside,
that is, blackburn the whole field. i
This, however. will depend on the number oil
Of times the field is to be plowed in the rota-
ton rs, the next furrow will have to be
thrown towards the fence and the last plow-
ing before seeding down should always DO
towards the middle. Do not lay the furrow
fiat, but edge it 80 as just to cover the grass.
The depth Of plowing will depend on the
depth OF the soil. II your soil is not as deep
as you can run the plow, turn up little of
the subsOil each time, thus gradually deepen
Ing it. Subsoil plowing will be Of advantage,
especially where the top soil is thin. Re-
move all the stones to the depth that you
plow. Give the ground thorough harrow
Ing, going first the way it was plowed, then
crossing, until the surface is Perfectly mel
low.
Marking cat and Planting.
IL you are going to plant in hills, the next
thing in order will be- marking out. This Is
generally done with the plow, running to q
pole set up at each end, and Others along the
row rs you can SEQ them, il you cannot see
through, marking double width us you 60
towards the poles, and returning through the
middle space. have used for several years
n simple and very effective implement for
this purpose, which can be made by any
person who can handle tools. Make cheap
axletrces Of such u length that the wheel
tracks will be just twice as far part as you
wish to make your rows. Fit on pair OF
light wagon wheels, and lasten tongue
firmly to the middle of the axletree. Halt
way between the middle and the track OF
each wheel, fit two pieces OF scantling, four
inches thick (extending to the ground and
rising little above the axle) 50 as to slide
freely up and down, but not to move side
ways; on the lower ends Of these fasten
shoyels from common plow, so as to lean
little forward when the tongue is up. Fasten
chains Just above the shovels and attach them
20 piece fastened across the tongue just be-
hind the eyener shortening or lengthening
these chains will make the shoyels run shal.
low or deep as wanted. The uprights should
be connected at the top by a piece bolted to
them, leaving tho bolts very loose in the
holes, so that each slide can work independ-
emily, and lever should DO arranged to lift
the plOws out Of the ground in turning
This machine will mark two rows ut once,
and by keeping one wheel in the oldtrack, q
good driver can. after little practice, keep
very straight without poles. Rows straight
and uniform look better. and add much to
the convenience OF cultivation. The burrows
should be Just deep enough not to disturb the
sod. The most common distance apart in
Pennsylvania is four feet each way. The
distance however. depends on the kind OF
corn, some of the small growing kinds being
planted much closer. The following rule
will, believe, apply to all cases. Estimate
how many bushels you will attempt to raise
TO the acre. Put il at one hundred; not
tha. il is often reached, but because it may
be reached. There are well authenticated
instances Of much greater crops but this will
do to begin pnh. Find the weight of corn
on a good, full sized ear OF the variety you
intend to plant; and dividing the weight Of
100 bushels by it you will know the number
of ears you want to raise on an acre, suppos-
ing them all to equal your standard. II the
corn is Of kind that generally bears one eur
to the stalk, the number of the stalks will,
OF course, bc the same. Do not calculate to
raise moro than one good ear to stalk, and
having the number OF stalks in an acre.
divide this by the number in hill (s.y three.)
This will give you the number of hills to the
acre. The number Of square feet in an acre
is IS $50. which divided by the number OF
hills gives the number Of ofsquarc feet required
by each hill, and the square root OF this
number is tine distance the hills should be
apart. In no case, however, should the
rows be less than three and half feet apart
for convenience in working. II this will not
make il thick enough it will be better to
plant in drills, making it close enough in the
rows to give the required number Of stalks
The advantage Of a plan like this is, that it
is founded on, first raising good ears, and
then us many Of them as possible. Drilling
is q very good way OF putting in corn il you
are certain of having help enough at the
right time for thinning and keeping clean
As il can only be worked one way by horse,
more has to be done by hand labor.