Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-25

the little weeds. doing in half an hour
what two men could not have done in
whole week Father was away from home
and did not say anyth'n g about it. but II
few days after he wanted to know what
we were going to do about that fodder
corn. | told him we had narrowed it.
d" HdrrOUed itrh he said. Hadn't II
spoiled it?" told him no, but it had
spoiled the weeds. He went out and
looked to see if it could be possible, and
found the corn all right.
Before forget il | want to tell how |
ruined this crop of corn, so that no one
else will he such fool: In four or five
days after narrowing the corn | went be-
tween the rows with a cultivator, to get
he ground rs mellow as | could. If |
had left it right there it would have been
all right. but | took shovel pillow and
went through so as to throw the soil up
around the corn, and cover up what few
weeds might be left among the stalks.
This is about what did the mischief IL
came off very dry, the corn wilted down
and never revived up so rs to amount to
more than half a crop.
| learned two things in this experiment
that it was good thing to harrow
growing corn, but it would not do to use
shovel pillow between the rows. | have
carefully noticed since. that where some
farmers still follow the old way of using
pillow as the last thing in corn, that the
stalks do not reach so large Il growth.
especially in dry weather.
NV way of cultivating corn is to go over
it with light harrow rs soon rs it begins
to prick through the ground. l go both
ways, and weeds that are skipped the first
time are likely to he taken the next. After
this use harrow toothed cultivator Zone
of my own make) The frame is like the
frame to II common cultivator, but instead
of cutivator teeth it has So inch square
steel harrow teeth. set straight, about 10
inches apart, and spread so as to run close
TO the rows. | find this to be the hest
thing that have seen for any crop that a
cultivator can be used in, unit! the last
time through, when different cultivator
Is required, if the plants want killing up
1t does not cover up the plants when
very small, and if tooth happens to go
through Il hill it will not tear it up. By
keeping a cultivator of this description
running through the corn once or twice a
week, the soil is kept stirred up and grows
finer each time the cultivator is used, so
that it absorbs all of the moisture that can
be got from the air, and in time of a
drouth, such as we have had this season.
it grows steadily along. not seeming to be
checked at all.
We have piece of corn planted the 22d
Of May that is now over feet in hight
and well cared, many stalks having two
ears 1t has been hoed but once, but the
cultivator was kept going rs long as we
could use it without breaking down the
stalks. 1t rained the next day after it was
plarted, and there have been but two
showers of any amount since. 1t has not
suffered from the drouth, while the corn
in this neighborhood that was planted
earlier, on Just rs good soil, that was hoed
when about + inches high, and in IA
week or two was plowcd out with II one
horse pillow, and not touched again, is not
more than half rs good.
| mention this to show the difference in
methods and results. If any of our farm
ers doubt this, just try the two ways in
the same field, and it will convince them,
am sure.
treat potatoes the same way. We
plant in burrows feet apart each way
have tried billing and not killing and find
that potatoes billed but little will stand
the drouth much better than where hilled
a good deal.
have never tried narrowing grain, but
believe 1t is the right way; shall try it
next year
heard f; rmer of our neighborhood
say that he thought pillow the best thing
10 use in corn. Well, he has the right to
think so, and to use the pillow, but think
if he would read agricultural papers he
would think differently. | wonder if the
farmers of Vermont do, as a general
thing, read agricultural matter very much.
have tried to get subscribers to different
agricultural papers, and | have to admit
that have not met with success in the
undertaking.
Now do not like farming myself, but
circumstances not within my control re-
quire it for the present, and while am on
The farm ! want to farm ii the best can,
and am willing to learn from others what
can. do not expect to always do things
as they ought to be done, but when find
| have made mistake | steer clear of ii
next time, and | think by reading the
experience of others-no matter if we do
not agree with them entirely-we shall
find hints that will suit our case exactly.
wish every farmer in Vermont would
read and write for the GREEN MOUNTAIN
FREEMAN and vote the republican ticket.
We would then sleep sounder and have
better crops.
Young FARMER.