The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1882-07-14
Chr Gupiah Signal,
Hazlehurst, July 14th, 1882.
Corn Culture Extraordinary.

BY request wo copy the following
which we find in the Advertiser and
Mail. published at Montgomery Ala.
Mr.. EplroR:-I am, unfortunately,
without ovou the shadow CT claim to
tho honoring coguomen OF Farmer
and yet the following. however be.
nighted the source. will, l doubt not,
command the attention Of your farm
err readers generally.
Having some three or moro years
ago resolved to indulge in little
farming as sor. Of aide calling. my
first efforts in that direc ION were up
ON piece Of neighboring land noted
for its crab'grass properties, with
object to secare both corn and hay
crop OF urdiminishcd proportions, and
yet to 30 arrange. the corn on the
land as TO allow for the free use Of
The necessary field implements.
usually employed on the meadow, in
gathering the intermediate crab-srass
crop.
The corn was accordingly planted
in rows II feet apart and / foo.
apart in tho drill. or at the rate Of
3640 stalks to the acre, to cores
pond with the number common to
the acre, when sown in the usual
3x4 way. Aud let me add with more
than expected returns.
Encouraged by the success, I, last
season, made farther experiment, put
ting down in corn. 90 or more acres
10 rows II feet wide. md foot apart
in tho drill; and Notwithstanding the
prevailing ard usually disastrous
drouth, the crop -ealiz'd, was double
the best grown on the land for years
and twicn that grown on the infinite
ly richer adjoining bottom lands cul-
,ivated with equal care, Int plated
in the ordinary mode, and ordinarily
producing double the crop usual to
the land devoted. rs stated to the
experiment; the increased return
evidenced by bigger and moro ears
to the given number Of stalks-be'
ing greatly due, NJ least, to tho
better ventilation and increased ex-
posure Of the growing crop id the
stimulating il fluences Of the genial
Gun; h ugh no less, perhaps, to the
greater moisture retaining capacity
ofihe wider and yet amply drained
beds incident to tho change.
And now. with ideas expanded.
need Isay hy the encouraging past,
I end myself moro enlisted in the
purposcd demonstration Of the great
IL superior advantages Of The wider
row system Of corn culture, and am,
accordingly, planting in rows Of DIFF
fereu, widths aud Of varying spaces
between the stalks in the drill.
The plan regarded by me with
most favor, however, is that OF plant
ing two rows 4 feet apart. with the
distance in the driil--say from 0
inches to 2 feet-determined aud
regulated by all quality Of the land.
Then skipping from IA to 16 feet
two other.rows !. foot rows, followed
as before; AID 60 on, throughout; the
yes..wider beds being, as conceive,
necessary to tho froorand loss hinder
ed use Of the heavier horse power
nipple ments purpose in putting down
cultiva.ins, and garnerins alike, the
rdjunctive crops in view; such as
fold peas. German millet, fodder corn
sweet potatoes, &c, to DO put down
excep. rs to the FIRST named-after, Of
course, the corn crop may have been
laid aside.
The number OF stalks to the acre
under the plan described. and acct
dentally hit upon, appcars, let it be
observed, to be about the same-if
in each case accurately put down
and with the wider bed IA feet-as
though planted s feet apart. and at
like distance in the drill; this 8 foot
plan having, believe, proved thus
far most abundant in its returns rs
compared with any rival device.
Bat the superior advantages ct the
alternate plan described, seem to me
plain.
For-with yet better opportunities
of ventilation, thorough sun expose
ure and still bigger beds-less than
18th Of the entire tract, is mouopo-
lied by the corn crop; while tho en-.
tire productivesforcc Of the whole
tract-still enlisted in its service--is
yet subject to its every demand;
though not. to the prejudice, Of the
purposcd adjauctivo crops. to duly
occupy tue remaining 3-4ths OF the