The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Planting or Drilling Corn.

tages, and each is practiced by equally
good farmers. Corn in drills will pro-
duce larger crops than in checks, pro-
vided the season is favorable and the soil
rich and clean. But no farmers have
yet reached the limit of large crops of
corn in hills. With rows three and one-
half feet each way, and three large ears
per hill, the product would be 140 bush
els of ears per acre-a yieldthat far sur.
passes the average. Most farmers think
that they fail to grow large corn from lack
of stalks, and hence plant six or even seven
grains per hill. Four is as many as
should be dropped where grain is the
object. If fodder is desired, still plant
the grain thin and drill in a piece by
itself as thickly as you choose. 1t is
impossible to reach the best result in q
corn crop, as in everything else, by try
ing to do two things at once. Even four
stalks to a hill are too much for the
largest yield of grain. The plants crowd
each other too closely and the ears are
shortened or imperfectly filed Herein
is the advantage of drilling corn. With
continuous rows, six, seven or more
stalks may be grown in the space which
q hill would occupy, and without crowd
ing the plants. Some very large crops
are grown in this way. Mr.. Jesse Dewey
OF this county, a few years ago, grew
1,800 bushels of ears of corn on twelve
acres of clover sod. He always has corn
after clover, and always drills his seed,
narrowing the ground thoroughly be-
fore and after the corn is up, and until it
is six or seven inches high. The drag
destroys q few plants, but he drills
thickly enough to leave good stand.
The use of the harrow saves half of the
labor Of cultivating and entirely obviates
the use of the hoe. OF course the land
must be free from thistles and quack, as
the drag will not keep these down, but
the small annual seeds are easily de-
stroyed by the slightest brush. 1t is
much better to harrow corn which has
been drilled than that planted in hills,
for what is destroyed does not leave SO
large vacant space. Another advantage
is, that with fertilizer drill, some phos-
phate, guano, OF gypsum may be drilled
with the seed to give it good send off.
Applying such fertilizers by hand before
planting is very slow and laborious
process.
The ease with which field may be
planted with a drill is another strong
recommendation. In poor season early
planted corn always does best, and q
difference of two or three days in getting
in the crop may decide it's success. But
it is useless to think of drilling corn,
except for fodder, except on clean land.
If the field is foul it is better to take O
little more labor in planting and save q
good deal in hoeing. On field that has
grown large crop of clover the previous
year, there will usually be few seeds Of
weeds. The sod also will decay SO
readily that breaking it up by cross cul
tivation will not be nee led. 1t is OIL
such land only that drilling corn can be
confidently recommended. Most of the
failures in drilling come from seeding
too lightly and from having the ground
filled with June grass, or other weeds
which choked the crop.-W j. F., IN
Country Gentleman
CUCUMBER BUGs.-A correspondent ol
the Germantown Telegraph writes
A." Melon and cucumber bugs like radisl
leaves better than any other kind.
SOW few radish seeds in each hill, anG
never lose a plant. Earth-worms, cut
worms, white grubs, and in fact, most
worms are easily driven out by salt sowr
broadcast. You can do no harm will
ten bushels to the acre, but half bush.
el is ample. Dry Stacked lime is also eff
fectual."
A NEW FRUIr.-The Diospyros Kali
known as the date plum or japanese
persimnon, has been grown in Califor
MIA, and it's successful culture fully
established. The tree is highly orna.
mental, is prolific bearer, is as hardy
as the pear, and ripens as early. Tho
fruit is solid, and can be shipped across
the continent. When dried it is equal
to figs, and can be kept long time
1t is of a bright yellow, orange, or yer
million color. and is unsurpassed for the
table, Icing thought by some to b,
average weight is from ene-half pount
to over pound. The wood is valuable
for manufacturing, being a species oi
ebony. 1t will bear in from one to three
years. Cultivate the same as the apple
and in the same variety of soil. GRATED
and reliable stock can be sent by mail
CHEMICAL MANUREs. - Experiment.
with chemical manures, or with new
fertilizers of any kind should be mad,
upon a small scale, and then, as ex
perience with the fertilizers and skill il
using them are acquired, they may b.
used on larger scale. But experiment.
are expensive, and whole crops shoulc
not be risked in making them. And il
the mean time the farmers relianc
must be upon barn-yard manure, muck
lime, plaster, bone-dust, super-phos
phate, and such other manures as ex
perience has shown to be profitable
The profits of farming will be largel,
increased by the proper use and appli
cation of chemical fertilizers, but il
changing from we'll l-established practice
new circumstances, as well as new mate
rials, are introduced, and the change
should be carefully made, or losses ma
result at first.
Turkey Management.
One great drawback to turkey-raisinI
is the difficulty in getting the hen to la,
her eggs in safe place. But if b.
placing boxes or barrels containing
straw or hay under an evergreen tree, il
a clump of bushes or bya stone wal
near the buildings, we can tempt her t
occupy our impoverished nest, we hav
attained the desired object AS fast a
the eggs are laid they should be take
Substituting china ones in their place
from their exposed position and CAREFUL
stored in a moderately cool place. ]
the hen does not occupy one of the nest
we have provided, but steals one, tha
nlnl, ,,o,,nI Lo fo,nnI e nnSciblo nnl Al