600 



FAIIMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 11 



named kind, we have two or three varieties of yel- 

 low corn amonij us which I think preferable. 

 The third kind is a very white corn, from Glou- 

 cester county, in this state, where it is in hish re- 

 pute. The ears are uncommonly large — the 

 grain somewhat flinty — heavier tlmn anygourd- 

 eeed corn, but the stalks not so tall. It promises 

 60 well that 1 shall try it again. One thing in its 

 culture, as well as in that of the Texas corn, was 

 peculiar, and perhaps is worth mentioning. The 

 only working which either kind received, alter 

 coming up, was with the hand-hoe, and that only 

 three times. But both look as well, and promise 

 to yield as ninchas if they had also been |ilouixhed, 

 although not more. Each was planted in a single 

 row — one, two, and three stalks left in a place, 

 and about four leet apart. But from so small a 

 trial I can make no estimate sufRcently accurate 

 between thick and thin planting, although it is 

 very important to ascertain which is best. The 

 particular treatment of the two kinds, suggests a 

 few remarks which, I hope may not be deemed 

 irrelevant, as to the long mooted question as to the 

 best implements (or cultivating all our varieties of 

 corn. Upon this interesting subject, it is mani- 

 fest, that there must still be much ignorance and 

 great error, or such diversity of opinion could not 

 prevail. To ascertain the truth is becoming everv 

 day more important, from the increasing proba- 

 bility that Indian corn, must be considered our 

 chief staple— at least in all the tide water portion 

 of Virginia. Among these errors, in my opinion, 

 is the assumed fact that all Indian corn "is injured 

 in proportion as the roots are cut during its culiure. 

 The reason why I think so is, that every imple- 

 ment yet used among us for the purpose, does, 

 and unavoidably 7nust cut many of iis roots; tor 

 they run horizontally, very near the surface, and 

 extend from row to row, long before the culiure is 

 discontinued. Yet it is notorious, that the seasons 

 being favorable, good crops are generally made 

 on good land, by judicious corn-planters," whate- 

 ver may have been the implements used in work- 

 ing them: and none better than by double plough 

 and hand-hoe, although this plough can not possi- 

 bly be run between any two rows of corn without 

 cutting all or nearly all the intervening roots. 

 Nay, that the best practised eye can nor distin- 

 guish between the probable product per acre, of 

 corn made in the latter mode, and that made by 

 the most approved modern practice. The )i\ir in- 

 ference from this fiict shouhi be, that when there 

 is a real dillerence between any two crops of corn, 

 (all other circumstances being alike, except the 

 implements used in making them,) such difler- 

 ence is not attributable solely, if at all, to the 

 roots being cut more in the one case, than in the 

 other, but to some cause not ascertained, or we 

 Bhould never see two crops equally good to all 

 appearance, where implements had been used — 

 differing materially, in their root-cutting effects. 

 At least one instance of this fact I stated to you, 

 at our last meeting, in regard to corn cultivated 

 entirely with the cultivator and hand-hoe, and 

 that in the culture of which the single plough had 

 also been used. In that case there Was no differ- 

 ence discernible by several disinterested gentle- 

 men, whom I called upon to examine the two ad- 

 jacent piecies of corn, without apprising ihem why 

 the call was made. JVly conclusion from these 

 /acts is, that the culture solely by harrow, cultiva- 



tors, and skimmers, after the corn comes up, is, in 

 no respect, superior to that by the plough and 

 hand-hoe, but in the saving ot labor; ajlhough 

 this advantage of itself is sufficient to justify eve- 

 ry corn-maker in adopting it on all light soils, and 

 even on those inclined to be stiff. But lor hard 

 clayey land, — especially, if it be wet, long obser- 

 vation has convinced me that the plough culture 

 is best. Even on soils vvliere the harrows, culti- 

 vators, or skimmers are preferable to the plough, 

 the land should be well coultered very soon after 

 the corn comes up, to secure for the shallow 

 culture iis chief advantage. A considerable 

 depth of tillage is essential in all soils, to make 

 good crofis of corn. It is so, not only for the 

 spieading and nurture of the roots; but to guard 

 against that Ibrniidable enemy, drought, which, 

 for many years past, has almost ct)nstantly as- 

 sailed us; no implement can so eflt?cfually give 

 that depth as the single coulter, which accom- 

 plishes the purpose, wiihout changing the rela- 

 tive position of the earth's surface and substratuiu: 

 an Ojieration that would be death to all our very 

 light, sandy lands, if effected to a greater depth 

 than two or three inches. 



To such of our speculative brethren as require 

 at least a show of scientific reasoning for each 

 liict connected with agriculture, I would respect- 

 fully offer the following conjecture to account for 

 the equality of product in two crops of corn under 

 management nearly opposite, as regards the root- 

 cutting process. Lest I should be suspected of 

 misiakiug supposition for fact, I must here state 

 that many observant farmers have assured me, 

 that they have often noticed, as I have, crops thus 

 ditferenily situated, and could discern no difference 

 either as to quality or quantity, although I have 

 heard of no case where an actual measurement 

 was made. But permit me to offer my conjec- 

 ture. 



iVlay not the extremity of each cut root throw 

 out, near its end, more little fibres bearing epon- 

 gioies, than such roots would have produced, had 

 it not been cut; and thereby conpensate fully by 

 their numbers, for the loss of their original spon- 

 gioles? Jf such be the fact, then cutting the corn- 

 roots to the common extent, is, at least, no disad- 

 vantage, even admitting the spongiole doctrine 

 to be indis|)utably true. But if" no such compen- 

 sation occurs — if the exscinded spongioles are 

 never replaced, then the equal product of two 

 acres of corn cultivated by very different imple- 

 ments, as to root-cutting, must be accounted for 

 on some other principle, than the one generally 

 assumed as perfectly settled in regard to the corn 

 culture. 



1 beg you, however, not to rank me among 

 those who deny that cutting corn roots, while the 

 plants are growing, does any injury. It may, or it 

 may not greatly diminish the quantity of the crop; 

 lor I plead ignorance on the subject, liaving never 

 yet seen nor heard of any such fiiir and accurate 

 trials between the various modes of cultivating 

 corn, as would satisfactorily prove Avhich was 

 best, although no trials would bemoreuseful to us. 

 Yet I have met with many of our corn-making 

 brethren, wiio appear verily to believe, if their 

 own assertions are to be credited, that they have 

 already attained perfection in this art. The skep- 

 ticism which I am not ashamed to confess in re- 

 gard to the extent of our skill in it, is not for their 



