176 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of vegetation for one lot of land, and such an abundance of growth 

 keeps the sun from the ground, causing it to be damp and cold. 

 Beans are shaded by corn growing in the same hill, and are apt to 

 ripen off unevenly ; they also take much of the manure fi'om the 

 corn, which would otherwise make a heavier growth. If, however, 

 from any cause the corn fails to come, beans can well occupy the 

 place, or turnips may be planted in such vacant hills. We much 

 need some careful trials to ascertain the practicability of growing 

 mixed crops — particularly of beans and pumpkins with corn. 



Implements and machines to take the place of hand labor in 

 planting and cultivating this crop, have been in use by some of 

 the best fanners, for many years. Corn-planters have not yet gone 

 into general use, but the horse-hoe or cultivator is seen upon most 

 farms. In some cases the ground for corn is furrowed out both 

 ways, and by dropping the seed at the crossings of the furrows, 

 the hills will be about three and a half feet apart. By this manner 

 of planting, if the rows are straight, the cultivator can pass 

 between them both ways, and in a mellow, clean soil, but little 

 work with the hoe is necessary in order to keep the weeds out. It 

 is usual to go through the field with the cultivator at intervals of 

 about ten days, until the corn is so large that the roots would be 

 injured by the operation. 



I think it is an error, into which not a few farmers in the county 

 are liable to fall, of planting too largo an extent of ground to this 

 crop, and not manuring it sufficiently. If the same amount of 

 dressing which is now usually applied to two acres, was put upon 

 one, it would be less labor to prepare the ground, there would be 

 less labor in cultivating and taking care of the crop, while at the 

 same time a larger yield would be the result. The land, also, 

 would be in a better state to receive succeeding crops, and would 

 produce grass for a longer period, without diminishing the quan- 

 tity. It is also a fact worthy of consideration by our farmers, that 

 if ground for corn has been well manured, it will grow during the 

 whole season, even in the drouth of summer, and ripen earlier than 

 that planted upon half-dressed soil. Therefore, the high manuring 

 and thorough cultivation of land for a corn crop, will not only 

 insure its steady growth, but increase the yield, and actually hasten 

 its maturity. 



Like other crops which llic farmer raises, corn is liable to be 

 injured or destroyed by noxious insects. Those most destructive 

 to it are cut-worms, the larvae of diflcrent species of agroiis. Dr. 



