The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-05


have the liberality to do so. But why
should not agriculture be represented in
the government as is war with two cab
met officers), post-office service, State De-
partment, etc. The Commissioner gets
not more than two-thirds of the salaries
OF the heads of the Departments (not cab
met officers), and no doubt works as hard
or harder than they do, and his clerks
and chemists get less than the clerks OF
other departments. Why should agri-
culture be "snubbed" in this way?
is the most important crop raised in Vir-
glnia, or in the United States. The an
nual. production is 1,5OO,OOO,OOO bushels
for the United States.
Many farmers who have been adopting
the pc icy of raising more profitable crops,
as tobacco, cotton, &C., to purchase their
supply OF corn, begin to see their mistake.
Other crops may fail, or prices be unre-
munerative, and then there will be moth
ing to buy corn with. And where corn
has to be bought stock is scarcely ever
in good order-verifying the old maxim
that " stock will not fatten on bought
corn. There are many ways of working
corn, as will be seen further on in the re-
plies to circular sent out to farmers in
Virginia, to ascertain their mode of work
ing corn. Colonel R. Harrison, in his
reply, says the mode does not matter much
so the land is kept clean and mellow.
He and some of tie other noted farmers
in the State prefer the old mould board"
system throwing dirt from corn, weed
ing and throwing back. We think this
is the best system, particularly as it is
the best for killing grass; it mellows the
land, and the dirt thrown to the corn in
the last working is some preventive of its
being blown down by high winds. After
the last working with the pillow, it is
good plan in five or six days to run the
cultlvator through the corn to level the
land for succeeding crops, to mellow it
and kill young grass which may be put
ting up. In doing this it is better to run
the cultivator in every other row, and
then go over the remaining rows to obvi-
ate any injury which may result from
breaking the roots. Before planting the
corn, we advise running the new-ground
coulter or sub-soil pillow in the drill which
has been laid off for the corn, and as the
dirt is thrown from the corn with turn
ing pillow, to follow in the furrow with
coulter or sub-soil pillow. This makes a
deep soil and protects from drought.
One of the most successful corn growers
we know of adopts this plan AS to the
kind of corn to plant, that depends on
the locality and the purpose for which it
is raised. For Middle and Tidewater
Virginia, we do not think there is any
corn that suits the climate and locality
better than the old "gourd seed" which
is now however mixture of old gourd.
seed and flint: it is hardy corn, more
so than some of the "prolific" varieties.
For stock yellow corn is believed to be
best. For the mountain regions an
earlier corn has to be planted to avoid
the frost. AS important as this great
grain crop is, it promises to be rivaled
IN good measure by corn as forage
plant with the "ensilage" system. Time
to plant varies from A pril 10 to May 10,
and even later. The best time for Mid
die and Tidewater Virginia is Is to col
April. For the Valley and mountain
regions later planting is necessary on
account of colder springs, during Nav
and up to June.
No crop is more benefited than this by
thorough preparation of ground before
planting. Col. R. HARRISON, on this point,
quotes a remark of the eminent agricul
turist, the late Richard Sampson, of
Goochland, which he says he heartily
commends. Mr.. Sampson, in the month
Of March, was putting piece of land in
fine order, bestowing. a great deal of la
Dor on it to get it in good filth, A
friend, passing, asked what he was doing.
you haven't planted corn" q No, but I
am going to plant" Thorough prepare
ton of the land for this crop is said to
be equal to half the cultivation. We
advocate pulling fodder" enough to
feed the teams in the spring and summer
time, when hard at work. The racers"
prefer fodder to any other forage for
their race horses. There is no better
feed for horses than corn and fodder
none attended with so little waste, and
none requiring less time to feed. Corn.
like most crops, requires good land; on
Tach land 1T scarcely ever fails. even in
very dry seasons. Wheat and other
crops often fail on rich land. Corn re-
CURES large amount of phosphoric acid
and potash, and not so much ammonia
as wheat. Fifty bushels, including grain,
cob and stalk, it is estimated, will take
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