Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-18

fkThere are several important things that
are necessary to enable farmer 10 always
produce a good and remunerative crop Of
Indian corn, even in the best corn growing
regions Of our country.
The first is, natural soil, adapted to
the crop. and that has not been "run" or
impoverished by bad management, and
constant cropping, without having been
stocked TO clover or other grass, or MANFRED
in any way whatever. No man can expect
to get large crop Of this excellent grain
on a worn out soil
The next essential thing is deep cultiva-
ton, with the best pIows, and other neces-
sary implements TO prepare the ground for
the crop. The harrow and roller should be
freely used and the soil made fine before
planting.
The third thing. and one that is much
neglected ~, TO be sure and plant good seed.
Thousands OF farmers lose their crops and
get no returns for their labor, or use of
their lands every year, by negleciing 10
save their seed corn in the early part Of
the fall and have it well dried before cold
weather sets in.
3. The fourth IL, 10 use a first rate drill
i DlAlAfls Win TWO DDTHfh dAtdGlitu 10 IL. n
man, with good team and a good planter,
can plant 100 acres in from six 10 eight
days and if the planter drops the corn
abont right, he can do il better than it can
be done in any other way, and much
cheaper; saving all marking and an extra
hand which he must have if he planted in
hills About twenty-five cents per acre
will pay a man well for planting in drills.
i have seen one man, with good team and
a very simple planter, plant 1S5 acres in
about eleven drys. Nearly seventeen acres
per day, and il was the best planted field
Of corn that have ever seen. The average
yield Sithont any hand-hOeing, was over
sixty bushels per acre.
The fifth thing necessary il. to have a
light wooded harrow with slim teeth. and
Use il thoroughly all over the ground with
out any regard TO the drill, commencing
about the time the corn is nearly ready to
make its appearance above the soil. This
process IS of more real value 10 the crop
than going once over ground with the corn
cultivator, because il destroys the small
weeds in the drill 40 efectually that if the
cultivation is used thoroughly, during the
season, there will be no trouble in keeping
the corn clean from weeds without the use
of the hand hoe.
The next, and last implement shall
mention IS, a good cultivator and hitler
combined, or The farmer should have two
one for cnltivating aud doing level or
smooth work, that will work the width be-
tween any rows from three 10 four feet
apart, and also one so constructed that he
can throw up the soil az he desires, and
make a high or low ridge or hill. The
farmer iG then prepared to grow corn or
potatoes, without the use of single hand
hoe in the field.
Give me the right kind of tools, and
good horse, and ! will work eight acres per
day, or more.
!, for one, am satisfied that, with good
drill planter and the best implements now
in use, that Indian corn can be raised for
about SIS per acre, and allow fair prices for
all labor, including blowing, narrowing
and planting, and narrowing a second time
before corn Is fairly out of the ground, and
cultivating three times after the narrowing,
making four times over the ground after
planting.