The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-04

der, a half moon will bring half a
crop, and a waning noon will bring
nubbins. This is the signet of the
Astrologers of old, and h expert
ence Of practical farmers of the pres
ent day.
In We olden time, when farming was
carried on through portents and AS
trological hariolation, the world had
food enough, at least to keep body and
soul together. The famines spoken
Of in the Bible meant scarcity only.
No one died for the want of bread.
the auspices of science, there is not
enough food produced in the world to
feed the people. Hence the wide
spread famines which depopulate
great portions Of the earth every year.
Apart from ali this, it is we'll to re-
member the one fact that all are
agreed on, viz: that corn is a gluti-
nous plant and will feed on all kinds
Of garbage and refuse. Sow your
corn field broadcast with all the ma
nure 0 have and all you a buy.
Don't be afraid Of burning it up. 1t
burns up, when it does burn, for the
want of food and drink, rather than
from too much.
AS it is Of more Importance to know
who the boys parents were than to
know who his schoolmaster was, so it
is Of more Importance to manure you
corn than it is to cultivate it. Do your
c~ultivating before you plant, and it
will need but little afterwards.
My plan is to break the ground from
fou to six inches deep, at least six
weeks before planting. Lay Off in
rows four or five feet apart and bed.
Bed back in a week or ten days. Then
just before planting, re-bed, leaving as
deep a furrOw as possible between
the beds. In this furrow plant your
corn eight inches apart, one grain to
the hill. Plant with a planter, and
which has a large percentage of am
monia, broadcast or top of the
ground Immediately after planting. AS
soon as the corn is well up, bar off
with a turning pillow, throwing the
dirt away from the corn. Double
barring is better with five-foot rows.
You have now 4 large ridge betWeen
the corn rows, which should be left
alone till the corn is our feet high.
If weeds and grass come up on his
ridge, SO much the better.
AS soon as barred off, side up with
a cotton pillow, using the long sweeps
and no front. Sid again in a week
or ten days with the same pillow in
the same furrow. In another ten days
the corn will be ready to turn the
middles to it. Do his with a turn
plow, throwing the dirt we'll to the
corn and blowing as deep as possible.
Now SOW the balance of your ton of
guano broadcast and run a harrow
over it. Your corn is now virtually
made, but until it is almost in roast
ing ear run your harrow over it at
least once a week. When in full silk
and tassel, SOW 200 pounds of nitrate
Of soda.
This is my plan. My neighbors do
different and make big crops, but they
all agree that manure is the great es-
sential.
Some plant on the ridge and make
good corn, some on level ground and
make big crops. some 10 not repar
the land, but do more in c%ultivating,
while some lay by the corn when
waist high. But all these men plant
by the moon and hay a rabbi foot
at each corner of the field.
The whole secret of corn raising is
anu first, moon neXt and rabbit
foot last, but all three are essential.
Notwithstanding the protest of Pro-
fesSor Massey.
A word now as to that gentleman's