American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-10
The farmers department.
A PROFITABLE CORN CROP.

when hard-worklngfaf farmers nave most
leisure, and the subject of the next
corn crop must be under consideration
the perusal of the statement which
follows, which we heartily commend,
will prove interesting, and it may be,
profitable.
The best corn with us, Southern
Herkimer county, N. " is raised on
sod. This was not always the prac-
tice; and now and then a farmer
turns down stubble, either Of grain
or corn, for corn. But the best cul-
tivators, and the great majority, plant
upon sod. This, thorough expert
ence his demonstrated, is the best
practice.
And now let me give youa particu-
lar instance of successful corn-raising
mot only successful in the amount
of bushels, but profit on the whole
crop, labor and all considered. Far
mers want not only great crops they
want profitable crops. And here is
one.
Moses Smith, neighbor of mine
last spring turned in nine acres of
sward. The sward had been meadow
for twelve years. 1t was plowed
eight inches in depth. This was done
to secure mellow top soil, as new fer
tility from below. Another thing -
The sod turned in deep, the worms
are kept below, working in the sod
till the corn has a good start. That
is the theory, and it seems a success
full one.
This sod was plowed in a few days
with several teams, and finished the
middle of May. The weather was
favorable, and the ground in good
order. Immediately after the plow
left, the corn was planted. Before
it came up, a handful of hen manure
dry mixed with little plaster and
wood ashes was applied to each hill.
This was done, says Mr.. Smith, to
prevent the insects from hurting the
corn, and to give it an early start
1t came up readily and "black'. 1t
grew on at once Moist warm wealth
er setting in, the cultivator was call
ed into requisition, and, during the
summer, was passed six times through
the rows each way, the rows being
four feet apart. The .hoe was used
around the hill to cut away the grass
and in such manner as to draw away
some of the ground, so as to give the
sun a more direct chance at the roots.
Thus the soil was kept clean with
comparatively little labor, the weeds
not being very abundant on the deep
turned down soil. 1t was what may
be called clean crop. 1t was cer-
tainly very clean soil, and an even
piece of corn, showing good promise
at once and throughout, and the best
crop of corn, evenest and the finest,
all things considered, | ever saw
The soil was thoroughly mellow, a
deep, rich, black loan, with good ma
tural drainage in the sand and gravel
mixed with it, except at the upper
end, where water had always been
standing more or less during the grea-
ter part of the season, from time i'm
memorial. Through this a ditch was
run, I believe the fall previous. To
my surprise, and everybody else's,
the corn was equally good here. But
the soil was as mellow as the rest, and
equally rich and black, with, Fbelieve
a little mari mixed with it,
There were from four to six stalks
averaging fve-in hill. Each
stalk had from two to three large ears
Dutton corn, ''medium size"
The corn was cut in the first half
of September begun on the first and
finished on the Twelfth day of the month
1t had been well glazed, but no more,
when cutting was commenced.
| should have mentioned that several
acres of the lot had been in corn the
year before, on sod turned down.
This corn was equally good with the
rest /; and here the cutting was COM
menced, perhaps on account of the
corn being ripper, though of this I am
not certain. The corn here last year
was excellent, but lacked few bush
els to the acre of the crop of the
present season, which was more fa-
vorable to corn, especially on sod, but
more especially sod turned in deep.
The yield of the nine acres avera-
ged a triAe over eighty bushels to the
acre. The corn was unsurpassed in
quality, the grain hard, plump and
glistening-and it was all like this,
with the most trifing exception.
The stalks, by being cut early, when
yet fully green, the husk of the ear
being only changed somewhat-afford
the best and sweetest of fodder, hav-
ing this advantage over hay, say our
farmers, that it makes yellow, as well
as better favored butter, and is pre-
ferred to any hay. The stalks are
fed the fore part of winter, and much
butter is thus made. which always
sells for the highest price. Besides,
COWS are said to give milk longer AM