and porous, is beneficial to the crop. It should be equally spread over the whole surface, before it is ploughed under. It then continues to afford fresh pasture to the roots till the corn has matured, and is in its place to benefit the succeeding crop. If put into the hills, the roots soon extend beyond its influence, it does not so readily decompose, and the subsequent crop is prejudiced from its partial distribution in the soil. In a rotation of four or five years, in which this crop receives the manure, twenty-five or thirty ordinary loads. may be applied to one acre with greater profit, than to two or three acres. Every addition tells in the product; and there is scarcely any danger of manuring too high for this favorite crop. Gypsum is applied broadcast before the last ploughing or harrowing, or strewed on the hills after hoeing. I pursue the first method, at the rate of a bushel to the acre. (d)

row.

The best preparation for a corn crop is a clover or other grass lay, or lea, well covered with a long manure, recently spread, neatly ploughed, and harrowed lengthwise of the furA roller may precede the harrow with advantage. The time of performing these operations depends upon the texture of the soil, and the quality of the sod. If the first is inclining to clay, or the latter tough or of long continuance, the ploughing may be performed the preceding autumn; but where sand or gravel greatly preponderate, or the sod is light and tender, it is best performed in the spring, and as near to the planting as convenient. The harrow at least should immediately precede planting. All seeds do best when put into the fresh stirred mould. Stiff lands are ameliorated and broken down by fall ploughing; but light lands are rather prejudiced by it. When corn is preceded by a tilled crop, the ground should be furrowed, and the seed deposited in the bottoms of the furrows. Where there is a sod, the rows should be superficially marked, and the seed planted upon the surface. Where the field is flat, or the sub-soil retentive of moisture, the land should be laid in ridges, that the excess of water which falls may pass off in the furroughs.

The time of planting must vary in different districts and in different seasons. The ground should be sufficiently warmed by vernal heat to cause a speedy germination. Natural vegetation affords the best guide. My rule has been to plant when the apple is bursting its blossom buds, which has generally been between the 12th and 20th of May.

Preparation of the seed. The enemies to be combated are the wire worm, brown grub, birds [and squirrels. Of these the first and two last prey upon the kernels, and against these tar offers a complete protection. I soak my seed 12 to 20 hours in hot water, in which is dissolved a few ounces of crude salt petre, and then add (say to 8 quarts of seed) half a pint of tar, previously warmed and diluted with a quart of warm water. The mass is well stirred, the corn taken out, and as much plaster added as will adhere to the grain. This impregnates and partially coats the seed with the tar. The experience of years will warrant me in confidently recommending this as a protection for the seed.

The manner of planting is ordinarily in hills, from two and a half to six feet apart, according to the variety of corn, the strength of the soil, and the fancy of the cultivator. The usual distance in my neighborhood is three feet. Some, however plant in drills of one, two and three rows, by which a greater crop is unquestionably obtained, though the expense of culture is somewhat increased. (e) The quantity of seed should be double, and may be quadruple (f) what is required to stand. It is well known that a great difference is manifest in the appearance of the plants. Some appear feeble and sickly, which, the best nursing will not render productive. The expense of seed, and the labor of pulling up all but three or four of the strongest plants in a hill, it is believed will be amply remunerated by the increased product. If the seed is covered, as it should be, with fine mould only, and not too deep, we may at least calculate upon every hill or drill having its requisite number of plants.

The after culture consists in keeping the soil loose and free from weeds, which is ordinarily accomplished by two dressings, and in thinning the plants, which latter may be done the

first hoeing, or partially omitted till the last. The practice of ploughing among corn, and of making large hills, is justly getting into disrepute for the plough bruizes and cuts the roots of the plants, turns up the sod and manure to waste, and renders the crop more liable to suffer by drought. The first dressing should be performed as soon as the size of the plants will permit, and the best implement to precede the hoe is a corn harrow, adapted to the width of the rows, which every farmer can make. This will destroy most of the weeds and

pulverise the soil. The second hoeing should be performed before or as soon as the tassels appear, and may be preceded by the corn harrow, a shallow furrow of the plough, or what is better than either, by the cultivator. (g) A slight earthing is beneficial, providing the earth is scraped from the surface, and the sod and manure not exposed. It will be found beneficial to run the harrow or cultivator a third, and even a fourth time, between the rows, to destroy weeds and loosen the surface, particularly if the season is dry. (h)

In harvesting the crop, one of three modes is adopted, viz. 1. The corn is cut at the surface of the ground, when the grain has become glazed, or hard upon the outside, put immediately into stooks, and when sufficiently dried, the corn and stalks are separated, and both secured. 2. The tops are taken off when the corn has become glazed, and the grain permitted to remain till October or November upon the buts. Or, 3. Both corn and stalks are left standing till the grain has fully ripened, and the latter become dry, when both are secured. There are other modes, such as leaving the buts or entire stalks, in the field, after the grain is gathered; but these are so wasteful and slovenly as not to merit consideration. The stalks, blades and tops of corn, if well secured are an excellent fodder for neat cattle. If cut, or cut and steamed, so that they can be readily masticated, they are superior to hay. Besides, their fertilizing properties, as a manure, are greatly augmented by being fed out in the cattle yard, and imbibing the urine and liquids which always there abound, and which are lost to the farm, in ordinary yards, without an

abundance of dry litter to take them up. By the first of these methods, the crop may be secured before the autumnal rains; the value of the fodder is increased, and the ground is cleared in time for a winter crop of wheat or rye. The second mode impairs the value of the forage, requires more labor, and does not increase the quantity, or improve the quality, of the grain. The third mode requires the same labor as the first, may improve the quality of the grain, but must inevitably deteriorate the quality of the fodder. The corn cannot be husked too promptly after it is gathered from the field. If permitted to heat, the value of the grain is seriously impaired. (i)

Saving seed. The fairest and soundest ears are either selected in the field, or, at the time of husking, a few of the husks being left on, braided and preserved in an airy situation till wanted for use.

In making a choice of sorts, the object should be to obtain the varieties which ripen early, and afford the greatest crop. I think these two properties are best combined in a twelve rowed kind which I obtained from Vermont some years ago, and which I call Dutton corn, from the name of the gentleman from whom I received it. It is earlier than the common eight rowed yellow, or any other field variety I have seen, and at the same time gives the greatest product. I have invariably cut the crop in the first fourteen days of September, and once in the last week in August. The cob is large, but the grain is so compact upon it, that two bushels of sound ears have yielded five pecks of shelled grain, weighing 62 lbs. the bushel.

In securing the fodder, precaution must be used. The buts become wet by standing on the ground, and if placed in large stacks, or in the barn, the moisture which they contain often induces fermentation and mouldiness. . To avoid this I put them first in stacks so small, that the whole of the buts are exposed upon the outer surface; and when thoroughly dry they may be taken to the barn, or left to be moved as they are wanted to be fed out-merely regarding the propriety of removing a whole stock at the same time.

NOTES.

(a) Estimated expense of cultivating an acre of Indian corn:

One ploughing, (suppose a clover lay)

Harrowing and planting

Two hoeings, 4 days and horse team,
Harvesting, 2 days

Cutting and harvesting stalks,

Rent,

$15 75 (b) Stable and yard manures lose 50 per cent. by the fermentation they undergo in the yard during the summer. This loss consists of the gasses which are evolved in the process of rotting, and of the fluids which sink into the earth, or are carried off by the rains. Plants receive their food either in a gaseous or liquid form. If manure rots in the soil, neither these gasses or fluids are lost: the earth retains, and the roots of the plants imbibe them. Yet recent manures are not. proper to be applied to small grains. They cause too rank a growth of straw, and are apt to induce rust and mildew. Thus a crop of corn, potatoes, or ruta baga may be fed and fattened, if I may use the expression, upon the dung which is destined to nourish the wheat crop, without deteriorating its value for the latter purpose, if it is applied to the corn, &c. before it has fermented.

(c) We are on the northern border of the maize zone, and should make up for defect in climate by selecting soils into which the heat readily penetrates. Air, besides conveying warmth in summer, imparts fertility by the vegetable food which is always suspended in it in the form of gases. Dews are also charged with these properties of vegetable nutriment, and when the soil is porous, they settle down as in a sponge, and impart fertility to the roots (the true mouths) of plants.

. (d) I adopt the opinion of Davy, as the modus operandi of plaster of paris, that it forms a necessary constituent of plants which it benefits, and is of no direct benefit to plants which do not afford it on analysis. Among the first are the clovers, corn, potatoes, and generally such plants as have broad or succulent leaves; while the latter embrace culmiferous grains and grasses, as wheat, rye, timothy, &c. Critical observation for years has confirmed me in this conclusion. Gypsum must be rendered soluble before it can be taken up by the mouths of plants, and it requires 600 parts of water to dissolve one of this mineral. 1 infer from these facts, that by burying it in the soil, it more readily dissolves, and is more accessisible to the mouths of plants, than if spread upon the surface of the ground. I am induced, from these views of the subject, to sow plaster, on grass grounds, in March, and upon corn and potato grounds before the last ploughing for these crops. The latter was recommended and practised by the distinguished agriculturists, the late Mr. Taylor of Virginia, and Judge Peters, of Pennsylvania.

(e) The following table exhibits the difference in product of various methods of planting, and serves also to explain the manner in which large crops of this grain have been obtained. I have assumed in the estimate, that each stock produces one ear of corn, and that the ears average one gill of shelled grain. This is estimating the product low; for while I am penning this (October) I find that my largest ears give two gills, and 100 fair ears half a bushel of shelled corn. The calculation is also predicated upon the supposition, that there is no deficiency in the number of stocks, a contingency pretty sure on my method of planting.

Hills. bush. qts.

2722 42 16