ON INDIAN CORN, &c. 



four of the latter, and the bulk of six table-spoonsful applied, (to each hill T presume) 

 which is covered with from one to two inches of soil before planting. The seed is dropped 

 about six inches apart at right angles, forming a square, with an additional seed in liie 

 centre, which, in case all germinate, is removed; more than four plants never being allowed 

 to stand in one hill. The furrows are deeply drawn four feet apart." It is further stated 

 that the ground is cross-plowed and hoed three times. At the second hoeing a handful of 

 unlcached wood aslies is distributed round each hill, and if the season should be wet an 

 additional quantity may be advantageously used. At the second hoeing the ground is left 

 level, but at the third a moderate hill is formed, so graduated that the elevation is only 

 slightly perceptible. Mr. Giraud further states, "It is my custom, as .soon as the corn 

 is glazed, to top the plants at the first joint above the cars, and strip off all the leaves be- 

 low them, which, when cured at this stage, I am of opinion, contain as much nutriment, 

 as the entire stalk at the period it is usually cut, when topping is not practiced. The 

 husking is performed on the field, and the eows turned in to eat the husks; thus leaving 

 nothing but the naked stalks, which, as soon as the active farming operations are over are 

 cut down, separating them at every joint, (when in large quantity acutting machine may be 

 used) and covering the field with them, they constitute what I consider a tolerable coat- 

 ing of manure; thus returning to the soil a portion of what it had produced; and if an- 

 swering no other purpose than that of assisting to keep the ground loose, it is the besj; 

 disposition that can be made of this, the coarsest and least valuable part of this important 

 plant. If the ground will permit, they are immediately plowed in; they offer no obstacle 

 to succeeding cultivation. As regards quality, perhaps the best I can say of it, that all 

 I could spare was purchased by seedmen at six shillings per bushel of ears." 



Such is the account given of this experiment in cultivation, and I have thought it both 

 interesting and profitable to biing it before the readers of the Horticulturist; in the first 

 place, as presenting a mode of culture well worthy carrying out, and in the second, as 

 showing the benefit to be derived from theoretical scientific knowledge, when combined 

 Avith practical experiments, in the tillage of the earth. 



My purpose is not at present to state at greater length than I have above done, the 

 details of the system pursued; they will be found in the volumes alluded to; but rather 

 to call attention to the great importance of the increased study of the true principles of 

 real economy in cultivation, namely, how to get the greatest return fur the time, labor 

 and capital employed. 



The experiment which I have detailed is only one of very many made of late years, 

 both here and in Europe, all of which point as evidently and as truly to a similar result; 

 although they have not been exemplified in a subject with which we are all so familiar as 

 we are with the present. And I have not the least doubt of the correctness of the con- 

 clusion arrived at by the above scientific gentleman in his paper on the subject, that ''the 

 important rank occupied by this grain (Indian corn) in the agricultural products of our 

 country, its great capabilities for sustaining animal life, and its being (as I believe is now 

 conceded) indigenous to our soil, it justly claims the attention of every tiller of the land, 

 and notwithstanding the great improvement made by cultivation, we may still suppose 

 that it is far from its zenith, and its capabilities for production not yet fully known. Of a 

 grain so important too much cannot be known, and whilst testing the capabilities of a 

 large number of varieties grown under circumstances equal, some good results may be ob- 

 tained; or at least it is worthy of the effort." 



re is good sense in these observations. The time has gone by when experience 

 be the fitting guide of the farmer or of the gardener. The sciences of veg 



