Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-02-17
From the South Csrolinian.
A Plan for Doublingth the Amount ofCorn
to Each Plow Horse.

Let every farmer proceed ut once to break
bis lands intended for corn to the greatest
possible depth. This preparation will be great
" facilitated by the very deep freezing of the
late cold weather. immediately before plant
ing, introduce q two horse harrow, and con-
tinue the operation until tho earth is thor
oughly pulverizsd and smooth as a plant bed.
Then check with a bull tongue both ways
before planting, at distances regulated in
reference to the strength Of the land, taxi
ing care that the dropper pursues the turrow,
first laid Of, instead of those that cross them,
which will csu,e the plants to stand III \ d.
rect line both ways. AS soon as the corn is
up, commence blowing with 8 buzzard, or
sweep, las they are called by manY,) not less
than twenty-five inchesin width, so construc.
ted as to skin the ~bprfsce only an inch deep,
and with two burrows to each Tow. The next
time cross plow with the same instrument.
and so on until the crop has attained age and
size sufficient to need no father attention.
ITs ADVANTAGES.
LIST. Each pillow horse can cultivate forty
acres on this plan as easily as twenty in the
common way, simply because two burrows an
suer the purpose of four, and the DRIFT is be-
lieyed to be lishtened fifty per cent.
%. This plan ofsurfacs cultiystionimpoSea
no drawback upon the plants froma lscsra-
ton of their roots. The light reflected upon
this subject by the science of vegetable ply
~sioloyy, and facts founded on experience OF
late Years have convinced many close obser-
yers that they have plowed too much. It is
through their roots that the plants obtain
their nourishment from the soil, and hence it
is that frequent plovings, that tear away at
least half Of them at each operation, must ex-
ert q very retarding influence over their
growth ard development. Every observing
man has seen very promising crops almost
ruined, especially at the last plowing, by the
destruction Of their roots or feeders Mt the
very tune their united contributions were re-
quired to perfect the es.
"a. Corn thus cultivated, upon a soil deep
ly broken, will be less Injured by drought
Very few of the surface roots are destroyed,
and the plants obtain the requisite moisture
from those that have penetrated more deeply
into the earth, none Of which are injured by
the surface pillow.
4.h. a crop thus cultivated attaius earlier
maturity, and exhibits silks and tassels sbou!
ten days earlier than in fields plowed in the
usual way.
5th. The use of the hoe is scarcely requir.
ed where the crop is 'dropped and planted 81
directed.
9Th. From planting time until the crops
are matured, no outlay for the repair of i'm
plsmeats is required. The sweep orbuzzard
the only Que used, acting on a soft and vel
pu!verized surface will last for years.
eth. The crop has q 6rmsr foothold in thu
soil. and will be found erect after gales tina
vros.rale fields where the plow has beef
adopted The abova plan of cultivAiing the
c,rn crop "a all we'll broken lauds, some tel
rears since, and with the most enc'm-as;a!
results at al times, xnd ufida- overJ rnriet
OF seasons, and with scarcely more than Ia
the labor for Raa and horse required ey III
cannon plan. Flowing with the swsepla 5
easily and 30 quickly done, and the fields ;
often passed over, that the plowman will b
pleased 10 discover that instead of killia
arass and weeds his efo.ts have efrectuall
prevented Them.
1t viii be objected that tenacious clay land
are liable to become too hard. This will nc
happen if well broken before planting. nen7
rains, followed by rot sunshine, will hrss
the surface and iorm al indurated crust. u
Lot eny gentleman cemwenoe boring with b