Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-22

prefer the old mode Of serdpinq the surface,
and setting 1t running down hill with /
every rain
Having thoroughly prepared the land as
above described, / run three deep coulter |
furrows midway between the RIDGE This |
forms a suitable bed, by the admixture of |
soil and clay, for the reception Of the |
grain. The opening should be deep, and |
this, together with the dropping and COW
ering, may be beautifully effected at a sim
gle operation by the Snlky Corn Planter,
recently introduced. II this cannot be
procured, the opening should be made
by a shovel pillow, with a small board
attached on each side. The grain should
be dropped from the hand and covered
with a hoe. Three grains Of corn should
be dropped where you intend but one stalk
10 remain.
may be asked what distance l allow.
On ordinary high land, l plant the grain
three 10 five feet apart, which will give
1900 plants TO the acre. On better land, |
plant il closer-say two and a half to five
feet-snd on very rich land, would have
il not more than two to FIVE feet apart Civ
ing, respectively, 1925 and 1850 plants to
the acre. rs
] greatly prefer 10 maintain the full
measure Of ave feel between the rows, be-
cause it will make the beds, when worked
the last time tiatter. TINS causing them
more eiiectually 10 absorb and retain the
water at time when there il the greatest
demand for moisture 10 sustain the stalk
during the maturing Of the grain.
A coon ~ the pant afiaias the proper
/ size, run a deep coulter iurrow Il desire
10 iamiliaTize the reader With this term
on each side, and follow it Immediately
with the hoe; having the weakest stalks
pulled ont where three are found. A suit
able time should be selected, about two or
three weeks afterwards, when the ground is
wet, TO Withdraw another plant, leaving
only one.
About this time the land should receive
| thorough narrowing with a coulter tooth
harrow, taking care to let the teeth run
very deep. This will tear down the beds
which have been formed BY the reversing
process above recommended, and leave a
nearly level surface between the rows.
II, from frequent rains the grass be like
ly 10 get ahead, keen shovel pillow may be
substituted with advantage Two weeks
more will bring us 10 the fifth or tenth of
June, at which time the corn will be in
condition 10 receive its last blowing. This
is effected by running one Dagon furroW on
each side of the ridge, taking care to run
as far from the plants as is consistent with
making the dirt meet around them. The
furrows thus formed should be filed by dirt
thrown with shovel pillow having a small
mould board attached. prefer this TO
second furroW from the Dagon, because it
leaves II hatter bed, which i regard as of
great importance.
In laying by corn, / neUer ploW every con-
seeutipe rol0, but leave every alternate one
to be attended 10 when the frst shall have
been plowed. This will be in about six
| days, by which time the roots which may
have been severed will have taken hold"
on the earth and be able TO sustain the
| plants, whilst the last broken shall remain
disrupted. The plants are thus protected
from the effects CT too great depletion at
any one time, and are preserved in
green and Aonishing state, when
nelghboring crops are parched and vel
low. Every one knows that, if two quarts
OF blood be taken from q patient az one
operation, paleness and fainting will be the
consequence, whilst, If only half the uuan-
tity be drawn on one day and IA much
more Fix days thereafter, no such effect
will be produced. 10 will thus be seen
that the mode Of cultivation here recon-
mended Is supported by analogy, whilst il
is founded on reason aud sound philosophy.
take occasion, just here, to impress up
on the mind of the reader the very great
Importance OF allowing the loose dirt TO
remain where il is most needed, namely,
equally diflused over the whole surface be
tween the rows Of corn. 1t is the custom
with many farmers TO draw the dirt from
the middle Of the rows, and TO pile il in
large hills arodnd the stalks. Nothing
can be more irrational and injurious to the
crop. The large roots coming out above
the surface Of the earth afford no nourish-
mentto the plant, but serve only az braces
to preserve it from falling. IL is the small
fbrous, thread-like roots only which con
yey the nourishment to the corn, and they,
as every observing individual knows, are
found like net work extending entirely
across the rows. If the soil which forms
their bed be removed from its proper po-
sitlon, they will be deprived of all power
to convey nourishment TO the plant, and it
will, as a necessary result, sicken and fade
and twist, and thus the cultivator will, by
his own folly, be deprived Of a remuner-
ating return for his labor Should drought
set in during the process clearing and filling,
he may boast of housing few nubbins, but
will gather no corn. have known many
farmers TO suffer severely for thus setting
at defiance the laws of nature, the teach
ings Of philosophy and the plainest die
tates Of common sense. From the tenth TO
the fifteenth of July, 1 run too deep coulter
iurroWs in the center between the rows.
thus forming fresh and deep bed for the
/ Doots and retaining the greatest amount of
moisture at time most needed. Let no
one who shall try this mode of cultiyatinp
corn be discouraged in the spring, when he
shall see his neighbors crops, planted in
the usual way, ION ridge outstripping
his an growth. mot having depth of
earth, it may be expected thus to 90 ahead
for a time; but he who shall follow the
directions above given, will have the satis-
faction Of seeing his crop green and flour.
iShiao during tAe summer, when all around
will be psrched and Withered. | am free
to admit that there will not be this differ
ence when rain shall fall in sufficient quan.
titles whenever needed; but In all ordi-
nary seasons the contrast will strike every
beholder, and lead to the inqniry.
What causes the great difference
in the appearance of contiguous
crops" have thus far written Of the
cultivation Of corn on high land only.
On sandy lowgrounds there need be but
little variation OF the mode; but in low
grounds with an impervious soil, or other.
wise, liable TO be saturated with water. an
opposite treatment is required. Whereas,
the object in the first case is 10 solicit and
retain moisture, we are 20 endeavor here 10
provide the most efiectlIsl means of 1eftino
Il out Of the land
In the preparation Of land of this charac-
ter, the first step 10 be taken is TO cnt
sufficient number of bitches in the proper
place, and of the proper size and depth, TO
attract and carry off the surplus water. Ii
the soil be OF an imperEious character, il
will be necessary to construct blind bitches
Of the required depth, leading into the
open sewers, taking care TO have their
covering 20 far below the surface az not to
be reached by the pillow. These, together
with the surface trenches made with pillow
and properly located, will put the land in
proper state for cultivation.
Here ] would throw up the beds four feet