312 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



than when it can be done only in one direction. &quot;When the corn is planted in drills, the 

 plants can be more uniformly distributed over the ground, giving the sun and air free access 

 to them, while there is less crowding. The advocates of drill -plan ting claim that these 

 benefits more than offset those of hill-culture. The advocates of hill-culture, on the other 

 hand, claim that an increased yield is obtained by their favorite method. Both methods have 

 their especial advantages, and by experimenting for himself the farmer can determine which 

 he prefers; we are inclined to favor drilling. The best planting-machines can be so adjusted 

 as to drop the seed either in hills or drills, as desired, as well as a common drilling-machine. 

 They will open the furrow, drop the seed at regular intervals, and in proper quantity, in 

 straight rows or drills, which admits of after cultivation by machinery, cover the seed at the 

 proper depth as well as could be done by hand, roll it down, and measure and mark off at 

 the same time the distance for the next row or drill to be planted. In this manner a single- 

 rowed machine, with one man and a horse, will plant from seven to ten acres of corn per 

 day. &quot;With a double-rowed machine, planting two rows at a time, about twice this amount 

 can be planted, or from fifteen to eighteen acres a day; these machines doing the work as 

 rapidly as a horse can walk. Some of the smaller ones can be worked by hand, if desired. 



ROTARY CHECK-ROWING CORN-PLANTER. 



The Check-Rowing Planter, manufactured by the New York Plow Co., New York City, is an 

 excellent machine for this purpose. 



&quot;Whether the corn be planted in hills or drills, it is well to give it sufficient room for 

 growth, that the plants may not be crowded and the air and sun excluded. The rows should 

 also be far enough apart to admit of the movements of the horse in the use of the cultivator 

 or horse-hoe. Such culture results in larger ears, that are better filled out, and consequently 

 a larger crop. The smaller varieties will admit of closer planting than those of a larger 

 growth. Corn is planted in drills from eighteen inches to three feet apart, with drills from 

 three to four feet apart, according to the fertility of the soil, its moisture, and the variety to 

 be grown. &quot;When planted in hills, opinions and practice vary with respect to the distance 

 between and the number of stalks to be grown in a hill. The distance between the plantings 

 should depend upon the number of stalks to be grown together, the kind of soil, and the 

 variety to be cultivated. &quot;Where only one stalk is grown in a hill, such cultivation will admit 

 of closer planting than where three or four stalks occupy a similar space ; besides, a rich soil 

 will admit of more plants to a given surface than a light one, while a variety of corn of large 

 growth will require more room to thrive well than a smaller variety. &quot;We think the general 

 fault with farmers is in limiting the space too much and crowding the plants too closely 



