228 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XVIT. 



The act of Iransplanfaiion should liowevcr ha carefully performed by a 

 man who is well acquainted with the use of a dibble, or such a setting-stick 

 as is employed for planting out cabbages. The shoots should be cautiously 

 heaved out of the bed with a spade, and the earth which adheres to the 

 roots should not be shaken off. They should be laid in a shallow basket, 

 slightly covered to shade them from the sun and wind, and should be 

 immediately carried to the planter, who ought to reject such as ai)peav 

 weak or damaged. The holes in which they are placed should neither be 

 too large nor too deep, and care should be taken to fix the roots well in 

 the ground, filling up tlie vacant spaces which surround them with loose 

 mould : a lad should also be allowed to attend with a donkey and a light 

 water-cart to wet the earth in the holes around the plants, and if this be 

 repeated every second or third day until they strike, or show an appear- 

 ance of vigour, it will ensure the success of the operation. 



MANAGEMENT. 



IVith regard to cullure, it is almost unnecessary to insist on the absolute 

 necessity of the land being previously well manured, and brought into a per- 

 fect state of cleanness and friability ; after which, Cobbett's mode of ma- 

 nagement is nearly as follows : — When the plants have got to the height of 

 three inches, the first hoeing is given, the effect of which is so apparent, 

 " that if a row be left untouched, you would, at any distance that would allow 

 you to distinguish one row from another, be able to tell at one look the one 

 which had been neglected : and a man wh.o could not, or would not, go over 

 two acres a day at this hoeing, would be unfit to go into a field." When 

 they have reached a few inches higher, the ground is ploughed to a good 

 depth, and to within two or three inches of the stems of the plants, and they 

 are earthed-up to support and furnish them with fresh food. 



About the middle of July, or perhaps earlier, the plant will be about a 

 foot and a- half, or two feet high, and then a second ploughing is given with 

 a double turn — stirring the soil to within six inches of the roots, and then 

 turning it so as to earth- up the plants : on which subject Mr. Cobbett says, 

 " that no fears need be entertained regarding any injury to be thus done to 

 the corn by the tearing of the roots, for the Americans perform the opera- 

 tion in a violent manner, tearing up the ijround and tumbling it against the 

 plants when the tassel is nearly at its full height and the silks appearing 

 from the ears : one rule is, indeed, invariable ; that is, that if the corn be not 

 ploughed at all, there will (upon ordinary land at least) be no crop." 



After the last ploughing, a final earthing-up takes place ; which is per- 

 formed with a large hoedravving from the middle of the rows earth sufficient 

 to hill up the stalks of the plants to the height of 6 or 7 inches above the 

 level of the ground whereon they stand ; but before that is done, thej^lant!! 

 must he suckered : as thus — Each plant sends forth from the bottom of the 

 stalk, just where it meets the ground, 1, 2, 3, 4, or more suckers, and these 

 must be taken off bv pressing the fingers strongly downwards into the soil 

 and pinching them clean out of their sockets, or they will start again ; for 

 although they may throw out cobs, yet they weaken the plant. They 

 amount to but little in bulk ; but, as they are excellent food for cows, they 

 will pay for the labour. 



Towards the beginning of September, the plants are topped: which is 

 rendered necessary when the tassel has performed its functions by shedding 

 its pollen upon the female flowers beneath. The operation takes place 

 so soon as the tassel is completely dead and withered, when the grains of 

 corn at the top of the cobs are sufficiently hnrd to resist a strong pressure 



