GRAPE -GROWING — PLANTING CORN. JH 



been planted. Below us, in the Indian country, and Arkansas, 

 are extensive pine regions, and various other evergreens. 

 This supply will eventually result in cheapening lumber. 



GRAPE-GROWING. 



Grapes can be made wonderfully productive and profita- 

 ble. Many varieties have been tried here. The Hartford Pro- 

 lific, Concord (the Concord is surest), Isabella, Catawba, 

 Agawam, and the sweet and delicious Dracut Amber, with 

 very little protection, can be well grown. 



OTHER GROWTHS. 



Broom-corn is grown with great success, and from the 

 sorghum or sugar-cane some sirups of excellent qualities have 

 been made ; castor beans, which ought to be kept liere and 

 manufactured, are shipped away to manufacture ; flax culture 

 is not carried on as it should be, being only raised for seed, 

 while the fiber is used for thatching sheds. Cattle Avill eat 

 flax straw for the sake of the seed left when threslied, but in the 

 face of this fact, ton upon ton is left rotting on the threshing 

 ground. Capital could remedy all this, so that factories would 

 grow among us. Silk, too, has been tried with success, and 

 beautiful specimens have been shown at county fairs. Cotton 

 and tobacco are raised with some success, the latter for home 

 consumption. 



MANNER OF PLANTING CORN. 



To speak of the manner of growing corn will, perhaps, be 

 too old a subject, but to Eastern new comers it may be helpful. 

 Plow deep and in the Fall, both for corn and potatoes, to insure 

 early crops. Harrow thoroughly in Spring. After harrow- 

 ing till the ground is soft and mellow, mark the fields both ways, 

 and plant corn either by a hand planter, or by riding a double 

 planter. This last is frequently done by boys, and sometimes 

 one girl will drive, while another one works the lever for plant- 

 ing. Plant rather thickly. When the corn is up so that you 

 can see the rows both ways, put in your lighter harrow ;igain. 

 This harrowing destroys the first crop of weeds. Soon after, 

 go over the same way, so as to kill a second crop of weeds. 



