CULTURE OF PARCHING CORN. 289 



when great will be the demand for trees to plant. We find in 

 every employment, almost, some whose perseverance and courage 

 sink below zero, at a shock so slight as scarcely to be noticed 

 by others. Let the timid ones, and all the faithless, observe the 

 course pursued by the hopeful, who apply vigilant and vigorous 

 strokes, leaving results to Him who sends sunshine and showers. 



Much attention is given to raising strawberries, rhubarb and 

 asparagus. 



There is another enterprise which many of our farmers have 

 latterly engaged in quite extensively. The production of parch- 

 ing corn may be regarded by some as a matter unworthy a notice 

 here. Taking into account the amount consumed by one 

 family alone, it would be so ; but, like that of friction matches, 

 the consumption is enormous. Gentlemen may be astonished 

 when we inform them, that fields of this corn in our vicinity, 

 consisting of three to twenty acres, are not of rare occurrence. 

 Large yields per acre are never sought after, because of the 

 inferior quality of the article. Sandy soil with but a medium 

 dressing is preferred. Raised thus, the quality is always good. 



With the disposition made of limited quantities of this article 

 we are all somewhat familiar ; yet the statements which follow 

 may not prove entirely devoid of interest to many who shall 

 read them. 



Oliver M. Whipple, Esq., of Lowell, has formerly produced 

 much of this grain, though for reasons best known to himself 

 he planted but seven acres last year. 



Justus Richardson, of Dracut, usually plants from eighteen 

 to twenty-two acres, mainly on light soil, using for dressing 120 

 bushels of spent ashes per acre. His crop the last year, I860, 

 on twenty acres, amounted to 1,150 bushels, unshelled. Not 

 a large yield, truly ; but, when the cost of dressing the 

 land, and of nursing the growing crop — no seeds of noxious 

 weeds being distributed with the manure — is considered in 

 connection with the price at which the article sells per hundred 

 pounds, it turns out very profitable, compared with other farm 

 crops. 



William Manning, of East Chelmsford, just without the limits 



of the city of Lowell, has fitted up an establishment which he is 



running successfully, but which, if not strictly agricultural or 



horticultural in its details, will at least show where an outlet is 



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