Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-26


| birds, the idea was suggested that thew
could be kept away by mixing little tar
In water, taking care not to get too
much tar) and letting the corn stay in the
water till it began to swell. On taking
the corn out Of the water / rolled it in q
little ashes and plaster, enough adhering
to cover the grains of corn. tried this
plan last fall with wheat, and year be-
fore last tiled it with corn. The corn
that l soaked in the tar-water was not
disturbed by insects or birds at all, and
this corn came up about four or five day .
earlier than other corn, and the tar SEEM
ed to give it better start. did not put
tar on the wheat. made very strong
brine of salt and water, as strong as
could get it. l sowed ten acres of the
corn that had been soaked in brine, and
ten acres with other corn; and the corn
that had brine on l rolled in ashes until
the grains were covered so that they
would roll out of The hand easy, and a
man could look ovtr hat field now and
tell by the looks of the corn where the
brine stopped. The ground is much better
covered with stubble. never tried cot
ton seed, but l want to try it this year, aud
apply cJtton seed in the hill, if it will do.
MIR. Williams am inclined to think
that cotton seed would be too heating
for corn.
Mr.. Estes-I have seen cotton seed
dropped on the corn after the corn was
covered with dirt. A gentleman who
tried it said the corn was greatly improved
by 1t, and said that he would always plant
his corn in that way. am satisfied that
cotton-seed is good manure; l have tried
1t on cabbage aud other vegetables.
Col. Wade-I have few figures that I
want to give to the club. l am sorry
that l differ from gentlemen who have
spoken; but though my experience has
been brief, it has led me to differ with
men who have had more experience.
But, before commence, / will answer
the Secretary's (Mr. Dew's) questions in
regard to cotton-seed. There are no crops
in the country that are not benftted by
cotton seed, yet would be unwilling to
put cotton seed under the corn. The cot
ton will come up as the corn does; you
will lose your manure, and you will have
this foreign weed, the cotton, growing
with the corn; but if the cot
ton seed should be heated and
then placed in the ground, have never
seen a better manure. Throughout the
sandy country of Alabama and Mississip-
pi, where their lands are billy as well as
sandy, cotton seed is the staple manure
Of the country, and if any one plants it
you can see the effects of it from the
road, as you could see the effects of the
salt on Mr.. DeW's corn.. 1t keeps it
green, and pushes the corn forward; and,
besides this, it gives strength to the land.
It does not take but few hours to heat
he cotton seed. Fix the seed like you
10 In hot beds; believe most people in
his country make their hot beds for
Iweet potatoes in that way. In regard to
Mr.. Estes plan of planting corn, l COM
Rat it with a great deal of reluct-
Ince, because my experience has
been brief; yet, even that expert
nee has been to me very convincing. |
am opposed 10 taking the cream of |
ny soil away from my young plant,
which Mr. Estes does by bedding his land. !
want the loan, the rich cream of the |
a'th, to come in contact with the plant,
nd want the plant to grow more rap !
dly if possible than the weeds, or at least |
0 have all the advantage of the soil that |
he weeds have. The weeds start and |
row, while you have gone to a subsoil |
hat is inactive, and pace your corn upon
!. Then again, in the spring, we suffer !
rom an excess, and not from want Of |
ain. You collect the water of these |
pring rains and send it to your young
liant; you have placed ridge on either
ide that will conduct the water to it. In |
ny brief experience suppose that at |
east three years out of five l have suf- |
cred from having my corn washed. He |
as his corn SO that it is rather more |
asily plOwed, will grant; he can get the |
irt to it rather more easily than on a
evel surface, but he hes taken the richest |
arth away from it.
Owing to the pressure upon our columns,
re are compelled to condense the remain
er of this report, although full notes of
ne whole discussion were taken.
The speaker continued his remarks by
ayiRg that the plan of cultivstlng corn
It'll which be was best pleased was to
ave only one stalk in hill, ard to have
lie hills three and a half feet one way
nd two and half feet apart the other
'ay. After the corn came up he plowed
once the broad way, and the second
me he went through with bull tongue
low the other way. He raised ten bar
is to the acre. -
The discussion was continued at some
myth, and during the course of the de-
ate the question of the moons influence
d vegetation was taken up. While one
: two of the members spoke in favor of
anting corn at certain stages of the
con, the majority seemed to be of tie
Dinion that the moons influence should
: disregarded; and one member even re-
arked that when be had to plant corn
d the moon, then it would be time
lough to consider the extent of her in
uence.
On invitation of Col. Wade, the men,
ers of the Club agreed to have special
Getting at the Colonel's residence, three
eeks from March %, at which time
lch agricultural subjects would be dis
used as were fitting to the season. The
'gulsr meeting of the Club will, how
7er, be held one month from March 25.
NOTE. The attempt has been made
Dove to present an accurate report; but
any inaccuracies are noticed, our injury
,unty friends will doubtless remember
lat some of the members spoke in a
cry low and almost conversational tone
voice, 50 that many words were indis-
nelly heard by the reporter, who is &C
lstomed to the louder tones of voice of
e Davidson farmers. And perhaps this
as fitting place as any to remark that
the members of the Msury county
rmers' club, to the good people of Co.
mbia, and last though not least, to the
proprietor of the Edsall
ouse, the compliments of this reporter
g hereby rendered for courtesies ex-
nded, with the hope that their shadow
ay never be less, and that the hills and
Illeys of old Maury may ever be liv-
G exemplifcstion of the wisdom of her
armerss' Club.-RBPoRTER