CORN. 



315 



&quot;benefit resulting to the crop. It too often happens that corn receives but little cultivation, 

 the most of it being required in the most busy season with the farmer, when other farm-work 

 demands attention, hence the corn-field is liable to be neglected. 



With only the two or three workings of the soil that the corn crop usually receives, of 

 ten hastily performed, there will be but little benefit to the crop, while the weeds will soon 

 be rivals for the occupancy of the field. We think every farmer will find it more profitable 

 and better economy to cultivate his corn crop more thoroughly and frequently than is the 

 usual practice. And here I would say a word with respect to the use of improved agricultu 

 ral machines in the performance of farm labor. The Western farmer, as a general rule, has 

 a more fertile soil to cultivate than the Eastern farmer; it is consequently more easily tilled, 

 and he resorts more commonly to the use of labor-saving machines than the latter does, such 

 as the sulky plow, drill, corn-planter, reaper and binder, corn-harvester, etc., his larger farm 

 and more extensive crops requiring it; but his lands are not as thoroughly cultivated as those 

 of the Eastern farmer. On the other hand, the Eastern farmer is still too often seen labo 

 riously making his cross furrows with a plow, dropping the seed by hand, making the hills 

 with a hoe, and performing much of the after-cultivation with the plow and hand-hoe. If 

 you ask him why he does not resort to labor-saving machines, he will probably answer that 

 his farm is small and does not necessitate such implements, or that much of his land would 

 require considerable labor and expense in removing stones and other obstructions to admit of 

 the use of such machines. Now, we would say to the Western farmer, a more thorough cul 

 tivation of your lands would insure to you a proportionately larger profit in the increase of 

 your crops, with less exhaustion to your soil. To the Eastern farmer we would say, if the 

 labor, time, and expense involved in your present method of agriculture were expended in 

 preparing your lands for and the use of labor-saving machines, you would find it a more 

 profitable and economical method of agriculture in every respect, involving less severe labor, 

 less time, less expense, and better crops; for hand- work is not only laborious, and compara 

 tively slow in execution, but expensive. By the use of machines for plowing, planting and 

 cultivating, all crops can not only be more easily, quickly, and consequently more frequently 

 cultivated, but with less labor and expense. 



Hilling and Level Culture. Whether the culture should be level or hilled, will 

 depend much on the character of the soil. Where the la.^d is dry, it is better to keep the 

 surface as level as pos 

 sible. This admits of 

 more uniform warmth 

 and moisture, conse 

 quently hastens matur 

 ity, and leaves the sur 

 face in the best condi 

 tion after the crop is 

 harvested, and may be 

 seeded down more 

 easily to grass or clov 

 er, if desired; besides, 

 hilling does not save 

 the plants from being 

 blown over by a severe 

 storm, for the small HILLIXO CULTIVATOR. 



support thus given is of little effect when compared with the force of the wind upon the 

 broad leaves. On wet lands, or when coarse manure is used in the hills, it may be necessary 

 to make the hills higher, but in all other cases, level cultivation is to be preferred. Shallow 



