22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



generally considered, and highly beneficial to the growth of 

 corn. Plaster is used on our light slate soil to good advan- 

 tage. 



" A compound, which is used by many of our growers of corn 

 to very great advantage, is made up of one-fifth hen manure, 

 one-fifth plaster, and three-fifths ashes, well mixed and left to 

 ferment. A small handful is put in each hill. We plant the 

 eight and twelve-rowed yellow corn, from the 15th to the 25th 

 of May, thirty-six hills to the rod, with four or five stalks in 

 each hill, according to the richness of the laud. Most of our 

 farmers hill their corn ; but, there is no doubt that working 

 the land level is altogether preferable, on account of droughts, 

 and the danger of disturbing the roots of hilled corn by 

 ploughing. It is reasonable to believe that an even surface of 

 land will receive the dew and rain more evenly than an uneven 

 surface." 



This mode of planting corn is more frequently preferred by 

 the best farmers than any other ; that is to say, on green 

 sward left in the spring till nearly the time of planting, so as 

 to allow the grass to get started if possible, when long manure 

 is spread on the surface and turned under. It is thought 

 advisable, in all cases, to put a small portion of well decom- 

 posed manure in the hill. All plants receive some part of 

 their nourishment from the air after the leaves are well de- 

 veloped. It is important, therefore, that they should be well 

 and early started out of the ground, and have something 

 in the hill to supply them food, till the young roots are suf- 

 ficiently grown to run out in search of other materials in 

 the soil. The growth of the corn is far more rapid where half 

 or two-thirds of the manure only is spread and ploughed in ; 

 the other half, or one-third, put in the hill. It is thought, also, 

 that the land is permanently improved by this method, or 

 much more likely to be, than if all the manure is put in the 

 hill. 



Two good illustrations of these different practices came 

 under my observation during the past season, very near to each 

 other, though by different cultivators. One of them, spread a 

 very large and liberal allowance of manure, and ploughed and 

 tilled very thoroughly, with reference to offering the crop for 



