Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-04-03

We are indebted to Dr. Sturtevant, of the
Scientific Farmer, for copy of his address
upon the above subject, delivered at a meet
ing of the Connecticut Board of Agriculture
last year. We have also been an interested
student of his articles upon A New Theory
of Tilage," in his paper, treating on the
same subject.
The New Theory is substantially this
that by cutting, or pruning" the roots of
cereal plants at an early stage of their
growth reduction of leafgrowth, and a
proportionate increase of frutfulness, is
caused. The experiments have been mainly
upon the corn crop, but the principle is sup
posed to be equally applicable to wheat, or
other grains. The root-pruning is effected
by deep cultivation, 0our or five inches) the
implement being run as close to the plant
as possible With proper seed, sufficient
manure, and rootpruning, DIR. Sturtevant
believes that the crop of corn per acre may
be pushed up nearly, if not quite, to an
average of two hundred bushels.
His principal difficulty at present is to
find the proper seed. In every corn field he
finds great many barren stalks. His own,
(the best seed he can fnd) under the most
favorable circumstances gives only seventy
ears to hundred tassels. He is seeking to
improve this state of things by cutting out
the barren stalks before poisoning so as to
have the ears fertilized by the pollen of
tassels growing only upon stalks that have
set ears. He hopes in this way to get a
variety with no barren stalks, but all bear.
ing one or more ears.
Having effected this, he will seek, by
heavy manuring, to supply plant-food enough
to make two hundred bushels of corn per
acre and then, by root pruning e. intercul-
tural tillage y to prevent the too luxuriant
growth of foliage and divert the sap to the
production of the desired crop of corn. AT
present the proportion of the weight oil
stalks to the weight of ears on his own farm
he finds to be one and half pounds OF
stalks to one pound of ears. He hopes tc
make the weight of ears equal the weight OF
stalks.
We have already expressed in these col
umns the belief that the Doctor will sue
coed in his experiment. Two hundred
bushels of corn per acre has been quite
nearly approached in several recorded in
stances OF what we might call "chance
CROP grown without any definite system
Or upon any intelligent theory. The Doctor
has gone at the job with energy, determine
ton and strict attention to all the conditions
and if he lives we can see no reason to doubt
his success A little measuring and figuring
will show that with perfect stand-no hill,
or stalks missing-our ordinary eight and
twelve-rowed New England corn will give
from one hundred to one hundred forty
bushels of shelled corn to the acre, with
only one full ear to the stalk. Now, with a
careful selection of seed, sufficient manurinc,
and proper tillage, we see no reason why
eight-rowed corn cannot be made to average
two ears to the stalk, and then you may
have your two hundred bushels per acre
heNOIdiiiS w oui
corn is not so easily made to produce two
ears to the stalk, but that skilful cultivatol
may bring it up to that average we do moi
doubt, and then you may have two hundred
and eighty bushels per acre.
The theory that cutting the roots by deer
and repeated tillage up to the time of tassel
ing will arrest too rank growth of foliage
and increase the caring is confirmed by the
observation of great many intelligent cul
tvators. But it seems to have been left fol
DIR. Sturtevant to conceive the idea of com
bining the knowledge with the use of i'm
proved seed and high manuring to reach a
maximum crop. If he succeeds in showing
our farmers how to average even one hun
bred bushels of corn per acre he will deserve
their unstinted gratitude.