Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-03
Ross System of Corn Culture.

Mr.. Joseph N. Sturtevant writes to the
Scientific Farmer
Mr.. Ross offers q corn planter, a horse
hoe and a horse hitler. OF the FIRST we
know nothing. The other two we have
given trial this season. The horse hoe is
hoe indeed, or rather hoes. The hoes are
the feet Of cultivator frame, v shaped,
with wheel in 'front.' The frame is adjust.
able to different widths between rows and
with handles. Each hoe, of which there are
nine, is formed Of a fiat, triangular piece Of
metal, and is attached to rod which con.
nects and holds il to the wooden frame.
The forward points of the hoes dip into the
ground. 1t will be seen that the operation
Of each is like hand hoe. II is a wedge,
and cuts through and lifts the soil, A com.
mon spike-harrow tooth scratches the soil in
straight line, but does not leave it sufh.
GENTLY porous and crumbly. We think the
hoe offers the true principle Of pulverizing
tool. The soil should be lifted, that it may
fall apart and settle of its own weight.
With this implement the earth can be
moved and the weeds cut of on line within
an inch Of the growing compliant, without
injury to it. The slope of the hoes permits
only shallow stirring Of the soil at the
part nearest the plant. Some tools cult.
vate the deepest on the line nearest the
plant. Thus preventing close culture, so that
with close and deep culture the plant must
be left without roots, save those directly be-
meath it.
Tho "hiller" does its work effectively and
to our entire satisfaction. 1t is 80 either for
corn or potatoes. For potatoes suitably
planted, and in soil free from stone or tree
roots nothing further can be desired.
With corn upon light soils the question
occurs, why hill at all 7
The first argument iu its favor is that by
throwing up the earth against the corn, the
weeds are covered and killed. When the
hitler is not used some weeds will be present
of rank growth to rob the corn Of food and
| drink.
The Ross system involves the frequent use
Of the horse hoe, at first to close up to the
corn, and afterwards little further away
This to be followed by the hitler. which
throws the well.puverized soil about the
plant, leaving a deep hollow between the
| IONs' w ucu VOIu 10 plhuteu upon SUI lhuu
the sod is by this tilage cut into shreds,
which is tossed up and then passed down
again on the ridge, which Mr.. Ross claims
utilizes it better than it can be utilized if il
remain through the season where the plow
has left it. BY this course the sod is mixed
with the SOIL
On one half of our corn we have not useC
the hitler, but simply the horse hoe aud
have kept the land fat. We incline to be-
lieve this is preferable, but we refrain from
giving reasons here, on account Of the length
our article has already attained.
The Ross implements make it practicable
and economical to bring our corn-felds tC
that fine state OF tilth that We think essen
tiRl to success in our gardens. They effec
an extension Of the garden husbandrY to thu
farm YIELD and as such should be graciously
welcomed. What this signifies to agrcul
ture can be guessed when we compare thu
prolfcacy of the garden and the field, o.
the minimum and maximum yield Of faru
crops.