195 



attained the height of two or three inches, the " tending " 

 commences. First the drag or tooth harrow is used, the cen- 

 tre teeth being raised. This serves to loosen the soil and 

 disturb or destroy the young weeds that may have com- 

 menced growing. After it is thus gone over, then follows in 

 most cases the shovel plough. This implement is used almost 

 exclusively throughout the county, and sometimes unques- 

 tionably doing great injury to the crop. We admit (all that 

 is claimed for it) that it is a perfect weed destroyer; and at 

 the same time do not deny that it is a perfect corn destroyer 

 too. 



The great injury generally done is in running too deep close 

 to the corn, thereby cutting and displacing the roots. This 

 course of constant irritation being pursued, the plant is forced 

 to form new fibrous and lateral roots, which tends to stimu- 

 late the plant with an over-abundant supply of sap, and 

 causes an enormous growth of stalk, but proves detrimental 

 to the formation of grain. Were it in place we could give 

 as evidence, to prove the assertions made, the results of many 

 experiments which have proved satisfactory and successful. 

 If this course of treatment is beneficial to corn, it naturally 

 follows that it would benefit most other plants while growing, 

 and w^e had as well apply the axe to the roots of our fruit 

 trees. Any observing, practical farmer can easily satisfy 

 himself that this barbarous practice is unadvisable, by a few 

 similar experiments with other objects of the vegetable king- 

 dom. But we fear we are digressing from the duty of ren- 

 dering a report of the manner of cultivation. 



The proper method of culture, as adopted by most eastern 

 farmers, (who have satisfied themselves with the ability of 

 the shovel plow, or "go-devil,") is to plow very deep, pul- 

 verize finely, and in tending the crop, use a cultivator or 

 other implement of like utility to stir or loosen the surface 

 and keep the field clear of weeds. Were this course gene- 

 rally adopted and practiced with us, our statistical reports 



