SOIL AND [Chap. 



which, speaking of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, 

 and Long Island, is some time in the month of 

 March, earher in some years than in others. In 

 this state the ground hes until the beginning of 

 May, when it is harrowed, or rather scratched 

 over, several times, but not in a manner sufficient 

 to bring up the sward that has been buried by 

 the plough. This harrowing is generally per- 

 formed in Long Island by a boy, who rides a 

 horse that drags the harrow after him ; some- 

 times it is done by a yoke of oxen ; but it is re- 

 peated very often, and until the ground on the 

 surface arc broken very fine. 



35. The next operation is the marking. The 

 corn is there planted in hills, or clumps. Not 

 on raised heaps of ground ; but, as it finally be- 

 comes a hill by the earthing up of the corn, it is 

 called a hill of corn, as we say a hill of hops. 

 Neither is planted upon a hill, but the spot, by 

 means of the cultivation, becomes a hill before 

 the end of the summer. The marking, which is 

 intended to point out the places where the hills 

 are to be, and where the corn is to be planted, 

 is executed thus, a boy being generally the opera- 

 tor. He gets upon a horse which has trace har- 

 ness on, the traces being well held up by hip- 

 straps, and kept asunder by a short spreader be- 

 hind him; and these traces are hooked on to a 

 log, smooth and pretty heavy, and rounded at 



