The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-04-15
For the Virginians
Planting Corn.


thing, must feel the necessity of bringing every
thing to bear upon the subject, that viii aid in
producing the largest amount Of this sndispenso-
te to the. life Of man and beast.
have been impressed, for some years. with
the opinion that much of the failure Of this i'm
paifant cropis owing to a bad system Of plant
ing, and many incidents have lately transpired
that ga to- prove to me the correctness of that
spinion; and nsw at this juncture, this critical
Mate OF our national Affairs, have concluded to
commit my views t. paper. and if they are
-e4issght to be worth the paper they would occu-
py, give them to the winds-they may light
some where. and if they do any good, ~ will be
- national as well as an individual good 1t may
appear strange that in these days of improve
ment, that any one should deem it necessary to
publish an essay on the simple subject Of plant
ing corn, now that it has been amongst the pri-
mary occupations Of every American farmer for
Centuries past. BE this as it may. it is known
to men Of observation that, in some Of the in-
dnstrial arts that have been in use from time
imfnenorial, some modern Improvement ha bee
introduced that has greatly facilitated the labor
and enlarged the profits without adding t. the
expense Also it may be that By the use Of new
ana improved implements Of husbandry, (all
good IN their proper places or the use Of light
er utensils for the sake Of convenience, may have
SO changed the process Of planting as to materi.
aay lnJure the crop-the planter not perceivnp
the dffersnce-if he does perceive difference.
he may attribute it to senc ether cause
This innovation or new mode becoming penc.
rally accepted. would lesson the CROP greatly in
the aggregate, and when drouth or any other
cause Of deterioration occurs, the crop is well
nigh total failure have seen instances Of
TINS kiad. Fields of corn that looked we'll and
seensd to promise tolsrably fair crop up to
the time when the ear was formed and begin
n1ng to Ril--then few weeks Of dronth has cut
hscrop short of half the planters expectations.
And when corn has attained to near abuut ;ts
|pti tight. who has not noticed thatif generally
'ends cut roots from one, two or three Joints a.
,evs the surface of the ground. and few IL anv.
sser reach it, Why il this so? Natures laws
We positive and never fail Of their end unies.
1reventsd by some disturbing caus. She reyer-
institutes system Of sending forth roots or
branches that are to answer no purpose.
will now introduce my mode Of planting.
sith some reasons for believing it to be the besI.
lss with;some allusions to what is said above !.
Andd may here adj that it differs but little in
principle from an sld mode that was in use some.
fty years ago to my knowledge. and is now
'racticed BY some of the best farmer. in tIer
oun'ry. These farmers generally have some
Node Of planting -Break up your ground o.
snal with large pillow, when ready to plant
lrrow it off at least one way with the SAME
low, or one taat will make as deep and wide .
arrow. small pIow will answer for crossing
Q, 1t II does not leave eartl, in the large furr6w
as to defeat the object Of deep planting. Drop.
le corn in the middle Of the wide furrov. and
over Is usual The benefit of the wide fnrror
. that 1t moves all the earth from the corn thnt
N wish to stir in after culture 50 that the rst
lnwing with small pillow you can run inst out.-
&c of the wide furrow, stirring all the nova
e earth without covering the corn only thr ",
8 some loose earth over the extremities If tia.
Epanding roots. enabling them to take hold .f
e lower stratum Of plnwed earth. With the
cond blowing yon may fill the furrow and level
q earth, then your corn has depth enough to
'ep it from falling down in the first thunder
sWer with little wind. With the third picv
you may hease up the earth as high as YOU
ease: then with full supply of roots. bedded
the lower stratum Of the plowed earth. Il wiz
ow vigorously The roots sent out f,on, tEs
cher jsints. instead Of remaining above ground
perish with theft half persisted stalk. will iav
ids o. the scil around them to support tho
slk against wind. and the increasing weight
the stalk and ear. and furnish their onnt.
sasurishnent that nature designed them la
pPly tor hilng up the ear and thus comD1ei.
: the crop. Then every staik withstand straipht
freed. and no drcuth that occurs in tbis.
nntry II injnre it so rs TO produce failure.
VIII shorten he crop some of course. but r. =
y produce pretty fair crop when that which
painted near the surface will fail If droutk
g in after the corn is laid 1y. it would be ~
Eat advantage to rupAa harrow over the Q, ound
break the crust and thus spread thin litter
looss earth over the surface. A hard surface
strong conductor Of heat, and will cause the
TN to become dry to q considerable depth: but
o"se surface will preserve moisture below Il
. long time Some persons have supposed
Q De ct great Importance to have considerable 80
TN OF loose earth below the planted grain.
II It Is not made below the common dentb ~
wing, tits OF no valne-it prevents deep plant sN
I Others have thought that planting corn IN
p furrows was injurious to its early growth
account Of the ground in the furrow being
der than the higher surface, than which NO
or can be more palpable, for every BODY ought -
znow. II they DO not. thar when the ground is :.
rm. enough to bring up corn and a cold spe,J i
urs. the bottom Of the furrov retains nearly
sams degree Of warmth while that On ths
aer snrtace, exposed to the osid sir. is mnch
Ter, and II per chance; s little frost falls -
G ! s'lA! y htss;,sths ground While thss .,.