182 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



A crop of Indian corn, in the Southern States, requires 

 more ploughing and hoeing, than in the Northern, on ac- 

 count of the greater length of time requisite to mature the 

 corn which is grown to the south. At the same time, the 

 southern corn will not yield more, to the acre, than that 

 which is grown to the north. 



Would it not then be more advantageous to the Southern 

 Planter to cultivate the northern corn; as in that case less 

 ploughing and hoeing would be found requisite ; and he 

 might raise the northern corn, after first mowing a crop of 

 red-clover off his land; as the clover-sward, turned under, 

 would be a fine lay for the corn-crop ? 



We observe that Mr. Bakeiuell^ of Montgomery county, 

 Pennsylvania, derives great benefit to his corn-crop, by 

 covering the seeds with the earth of trench-ploughed fur- 

 rows. This, we think, only indicates the propriety of 

 trench-ploughing the land entirely ; by which mean double 

 its present product would probably be obtained, of every 

 kind of crop. 



We will conclude this article, with the insertion of a 

 communication of Mr. Steele, of Philadelphia, to Mr. Pe- 

 tersy describing his method ot cultivating Indian corn. 



* I plough the ground, carefully, about six inches deep ; 

 after which I spread lime, at the rate of forty -five or fifty 

 bushels to the acre, which I mix with the surface, by the 

 use of the common harrow ; then mark the ground, with a 

 shallow furrow, for planting (the corn-rows five feet apart) 

 drop the seed three or four feet from hill to lull, and cover 

 in the usual manner. 



4 When the corn is up to the height of three or four 

 inches, I give each row a stroke with a common harrow, 

 relieving any of the plants, that may be covered in the ope- 

 ration, with a small rake adapted to the purpose. When 

 this is completed, or within a few days after, I commence 

 what is generally termed moulding. This is performed by 

 two strokes, between the rows, with what is called a coul- 

 ter-harrow (its teeth being coulters in miniature) which 

 completely mellows the ground, by cuting through the 

 furrow, and much closer to the corn, than it is possible 

 with any other instrument I have used, leaving the vegeta- 

 ble surface, turned down in the ploughing, in the same 

 position throughout the season, which affords, to the roots 

 of the corn, the best soil for nourishment, in whatever di- 

 rection they may be extended. 



At the season of big-hilling (in the technical language 

 of Pennsylvania) I give my corn a similar course, with the 

 same machine, but with small shovels, resembling that of 

 the shovel-plough, introduced into the places before occupi- 

 ed by the coulters j when the dressing is ended. 



