Year: 1873

are the base of all manuring for such
a feeder as the corn crop, than ashes,
plaster, salt, bone dust and Peruvian
guano. We spea k now of manure for
6r0adcGsti1ag. From so to 100 lbs. of
guano, rs to $50 Of bone dust, 5 to 10


bushels ashes, of salt and 1 of plas-
ter, would be a dressing which would
make crop of itself on land in any
reasonable heart; or half the lesser
quantities added to your supplies of
stable manure and compost, would
make most valuable and profitable
addition to them. It is we'll under
stood that the corn crop will seize upon
and appropriate nourishment from
rougher and greener manure than
would be suitable for almost any oths
er crop, and that such may be freely
used, this being specially true OF such
manures applied to light soils. e-..


Of the homemade composts and
barn-yard manure, we may say the
more the better; but under any cir
cumstances, add to whatever you do
Iapply 2 bushels of salt and 1 of plas-
ter to the acre. Salt seems to be an
application peculiarly suited as ma
nure to the corn crop, and will besides
be useful i'll preventing the ravages of
the cut-worm and grub. Coarse said
is now worth in this market $1.00 per
sack of 81 bushels, and refuse salt from
the packers is to be had at about 35
cents per bushel the latter being as
suitable if not more valuable for agrio
cultural purposes that the other. For
|manuring IN the hill, mix 5 bushels of
ashes, each of salt and plaster, and
put handful in each hill, or scatter.
it lightly along the drills. An addi-
ton to. the above of so lbs. Of either.
guano or bone dust would add stim-
Iulating element which would give grain
a good start. The mixture in case
guano is used, should not come into
Immediate contact with the seed.
The seed should be selected with,
care from earliest maturing and most
perfect ears, and should be soaked be-,
fore planting for about "a hours in a
solution of saltpetre, as a protection,
against insects and Yermin., Worms
are said to be kept away by stirring
the seed in boiling tar, till each seed
is thinly coated with it, about half
pint of the tar. being required for a
peck of seed. We have in past num-
bers referred so much atlength to this
crop that We add nothing more at pres
ent, except to repeat our injunction to
plough deep and pulverize and prepare
your soil gCe2; getmanure, and as much
as you can, and what you may lack Of
homemade, supply with. purchased
fertilizers as far as practicable, and
get good seed.


See article in this issue on Corn Gull
ture in Virginia by our correspondent.
''Piedmont." who is one of the best
farmers Of his section, and note our
offer elsewhere to present our friends
with small trial packages of an i'm
proved variety of seed corn, which
comes to us endorsed by the highest
authority as to its prolific character.


Cultivation Of tile crop.-Of course
| 1t is PLAIN TO every one That the bene-
fits to be derived from the perfect
preparation and generous manuring of
the soil which are recommended will
be very small, if the crop is not after
wards kept clean from the time the
seed is in the ground until it is ready
to lay by. After the first or second
working we urgently recommend that
the cultivator be substituted for the
plough. The laceration and breaking
of the roots by the latter implement
connot be avoided, and it cannot but
lessen the absorbing and celebrating
powers of the plants. For those who
have the implement, there is no cheap
er or more eficacious way of cultiva-
ting than with the Thomas Smoothing
Harrow, but the land must be in fair
order, and the operation must be be-
gun early and repeated at short inter


walls. It takes some pluck to drive it
over corn 5 inches high, but those who


have never tried it will be SURPRISED at
it's work. We hope soon to hear our
friend McCue's report on this point.