Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-06-06
EARN ana 3uussIuT6.
= =
How to make Corn with
out Rain in Summer.
For the Fayetteville Observer

1t is to the lavished winter
and spring rains that we are in
debted for what we eat. They
saturate the earth to vast depth
beneath, which is brought by
capillary attraction to the sur
face in summer, to water vege-
tstion. But for this law roth
ing could be made, for three
days of summer sun would dry
the ground beneath the roots of
common vegetables, and in ten
days even the timber would die!
The old method of planting this
invaluable plant is objectiona-
bic. First, the dirt is thrown
too much on the hill, which rails
cs the stalk and hill above the
surface; nature speaks the truth
as to the depth that anything
shall grow i'll the ground, but
in ten or fifteen days still an adj
ditional amount of dirt is thrown
upon it, causing the lower roots
to let loose and it has to take
new roots above at the proper
depth. Thus the stalk in the
hill is raised still higher by
which it does not so we'll stand
the drouth. Secondly, those
repeated plowings turn over
the moist dirt to the sun which
is soon dried, while dry dirt is
turned under in the place Of it.
This interchange of moist dirt
from the roots for dry dirt, is
unhealthy to the plant, besides
that dry dirt turned under abb
serbs much of the moisture
from the damp dirt against
which it is turned. Thirdly,
those continued plowinys work
up the loose dirt from the mid
die of the row, SO that the corn
roots in passing strike a little
dry hot dirt above, and the hard
clay beneath. Then is it any
wonder if the top complain !?
Lastly, there is still greater
error in the old method Of cul-
tivating this invaluable plant.
Every body knows that the
corn roots are designed for the
support of the plant, that they
ramify like a net work every
part of the loose dirt, only shun-
ing tho dry dirt above, and the
hard clay beneath, that they go
in search of neutriment, which
they eagerly suck up which is
for the growth of the plant
Then not one of those roots can
be broken with impunity. All
nature teaches that it is wrong.
You cannot cut the roots of a
tree without proportionally
weakening its strength and i'm
pairing its growth. All analo-
ey teaches that it is wrong
we have in our government
three great roots. The Presi-
dent, Congress and Supreme
Court. Now if one of those
roots be broken the tree of. lib
erty would wither. The above
are wrongs but what is the REM
cdy ? Subsoil under where
The corn is to grow, scratch over
the corn the usual way until the
corn is knee high, then run the
bar next to the corn throwing
the loose dirt out of the way so
you can pillow; III that furrow is
followed a narrow pillow. Hav-
ing run round a few rows in this
way, go back, turn the wing next
to the corn throwing that loose
dirt back, and subsOil each of
the middle burrows. Having
gone over the piece in this way
SOW peas broadcast, cross har-
row, leave it level; this retains
the moisture the roots descend
beneath the crust that was be-
ginning to be formed, and bid
defiance to any drouth that may
come. This system has been
tried in three States with a sue
cess that challenged credulity.
When we consider that the
corn roots derive their support
from beneath the dry dirt, and
mostly above the hard clay, and
that ten days sun will dry most
blowing to the clay, cutting off
its little space for support, is it
any wonder that so much labor
is lost of a dry year? 1t is
rather a wonder that by that
method anything be made
These hints are respectfully sub
mittcd for the consideration of
those who love a new truth,
rather than an old error. Res
pectfulIy, J.T.JoHNsoN,M.D.