AFTEE-CTJLTUEE. 139 



is scarcely yet four inches above the earth, its indus- 

 trious roots have already radiated to an amazing 

 length, and some of them have doubtless crossed the 

 track of the plough. 



It is the opinion of some agriculturists, that a 

 hand-cultivator might be so contrived as to accom- 

 plish all that is needed in the after-culture of corn. 

 The common garden cultivator is said to have been 

 used in some cases with entire success, where the soil 

 had been rendered extremely mellow before planting. 

 If some ingenious modification of the hand-cultivator 

 should be found adequate to all the requirements of 

 after-culture, it would indeed be a great gain to the 

 cornfield, provided the labor of propelling it were 

 not so great as to form a serious objection. 



It is certainly not unreasonable to suppose that an 

 implement, combining the merits of the horse-hoe and 

 garden cultivator, might be constructed on a scale of 

 size fitting it for hand use, that would answer every 

 needful purpose for after-culture, in all cases where the 

 soil is deeply and sufficiently pulverized before planting. 

 E"or is there any good reason why it might not be so 

 contrived as to do the work of the hand-hoe also. 

 Such an instrument, if successful, would be found 

 equally applicable to root-crops, and to all other 

 plants requiring after-culture. One great advantage 

 of this invention in corn-husbandry would be, to per- 

 mit the small and prolific varieties of corn, such as 

 the Browne, to be planted in closer drills than the 

 horse-hoe allows, thus enabling them to reach a 

 higher yield per acre than they can in any other way. 



