FARMERS' REGISTER— CORN CROP. 



67 



be ajijjlicd to small grain;?. They cause too rank 

 a (growth of straw, and are apt to induce rust and 

 mildew. Thus a crop of corn, potatoes, or ruta 

 baga may be fed and faitened, if I may use the 

 exjiression, uj)on the dung which is destined to 

 nourish the wheat crop, without deteriorating its 

 \ alue l()r the latter purpose, if it is applied to the 

 corn, &c. before it has fermented. 



(cj We are on tlie northern border of the 

 maize zone, and shouki make up for delect in cli- 

 mate by selecting soils into which tlie heat readily 

 penetrates. Air, besides conveying warmth in 

 summer, imparts fertility by the vegetable tbod 

 which is always susjoended in it in the Ibrm of 

 gases.^ Dews are also charged with these proper- 

 ties of vegetable luitriment, and when the soil is 

 porous, they settle down as in a sponge, and im- 

 jiart lertility to the roots (the true mouths) of 

 plants. 



(d) I adopt the opinion of Davy, as the modus 

 operandi of ];]astor of ])aris, that it forms a neces- 

 sary constituent of plants which it benefits, and is 

 of no direct benefit to plants which do notalibrdit 

 on analysis. Among the first are the clovers, corn, 

 potatoes, and generally such j)lants as hiive broad 

 or succident leaves; while the latter embrace cuJ- 

 miferous gniins and grasses, as wheat, rye, timo- 

 thy, &c. Critical observation for years has con- 

 firmed me in this conclusion. Gypsum, must be 

 rendered soluble belbre it can be taicen up by the 

 mouths of plants, and it requires 600 parts of wa- 

 ter to dissolve one of this mineral. I inter from 

 these (acts, that by burying it in the soil, it more rea- 

 dily dissolves, and is more accessible to the mouths 

 of plants, thiui if spread upon the surface of the 

 ground. I am induced, fi-om these views of the sub- 

 ject, to sow plaster, on grass grounds, in March, and 

 upon corn and potato grounds belbre the last plough- 

 ing for these crops. The latter was recommended 

 and practised by the distinguished agriculturists, the j 

 late Mr. Ta\ lor of Virginia, and Judge Peters, 

 of Pennsylvania. 



(ej The following table exhibits the difference 

 in product of various methods of planting, and 

 pcrves also to exj)lain the manner in which large 

 crops of this grain have been obtained. I have 

 assumed in the estimate, that each stalk produces 

 one ear of corn, and that the eara average one gill 

 of sliclled grain. This is estimating the product 

 low; for while I am penning this (October) I find 

 that my largest ears give tv/o gUls, and 100 iiur 

 ears half a bushel of shelled corn. The calcula- 

 tion is also predicated upon the supposition, that 

 there is no deficiency in the number of stalks, a 

 contingency pretty sure on my method of planting. 



The same in do. .3 rows 

 m a drill, as above, 3 

 ft. from centres of drills, 



43,560 170 



The fifth mode I have tried. The ground wa3 

 highly manured, the crop twice cleaned, and the 

 entire acre gathered and weighed accurately, the 

 same day. The product in ears was 103 btiskets, 

 each 84 lbs. net, and 65 lbs. over. The last basket 

 was shelled and measured, v/hich showed a pro- 

 duct on the acre of 118 bushels 10 quarts. I 

 gathered at the rate of more than 100' bushels the 

 acre, from four rods ))lanted in the third method 

 last summer; the result ascertained in the most ac- 

 curate manner. Corn shrinks about 20 per cent 

 atler it is cribbed. The sixth mode is the one by 

 which the Messrs. Pratts, of Madison county, ob- 

 tained the prodigious crop of 170 bushels per acre. 

 These gentlemen, I am told, are of opinion, that 

 the product of an acre may be increased to 200 

 bushels. 



1. An acre in hills, 4 feet apart, 



each wav, will produce - 



2. The saniej 3 by 3 feet, 



3. The same, 3 by 2J feet, 



4. The same in drills', at 3 



feet, plants 6 inches 

 apart, in the drills, 



6. The same in do. 2 rows 

 in a drill, 6 in. apart, 

 and the plants 9 in. 

 and 3 feet 9 in. from 

 centre of drills thus, 



Hills, bush. qts. 



29,040 113 14 



. 30,970 120 31 



Cf) I am told the Messrs. Pratts, above alluded to, 

 used seven bushels of seed to the acre, the plants 

 bemg subsequently reduced to the requisite number. 

 (gj The cultivator is made in the form of 

 a triangular hai'row, with two bulls; or if ui- 

 tended to be graduEited to different widths, a centre 

 bull is added, to which the exterior ones are at- 

 tached by hinges. Iron slats, fixed to tlae exte- 

 rior bulls, pass through a mortice in the centre one, 

 perforated with holes, through which an iron pin 

 passes to hold them at the graduated width. The 

 teeth may be in any approved form, or reasonable 

 number. ^ The cultivator I used has five teeth, two 

 in each of the outward, and one upon the centre 

 timber. The teeth have a stout shank, with a 

 duck's foot termination, four inches broad, some- 

 what cylindrical, rounded at the point, and inclined 

 forward in an angle of 30 or 40 deg. This imple- 

 ment is useful tor other purposes; and may be used, 

 like Beatson's, as a substitute lor the plough, ia 

 preparmg light soils for a crop. The handles are 

 attached to the centre piece. The teeth have a 

 shoulder, on the under side of the tindjcr, and are 

 fastened with screws and nuts above. 



(h) Some entertain a mistaken notion, that it 13 

 prejudicial to stir tlie soil among corn in dry 

 weather, and others that weeds serve to prevent 

 the evaporation of moisture by a hot sun. The 

 reverse of these opinions is true. The exhausiioii 

 of moisture by a plant is in the ratio of the sur- 

 face of its leaves and stalks presented- to the sun 

 and air. 



(i) The leaves are the necessary organs for 

 elaborating the food of plants, and when these are 

 taken away the plant must cease to grow. The 

 sap is useless until it undergoes elaboration in the 

 leaves. Hence, when corn is tojiped in the usual 

 wa}', the supply of tbod is cut ofl' from the grain, 

 exce])t what may be elaborated in the husks. On 

 comparing corn gathered by the first and second 

 modes, it was the opinion of those who assisted 

 in husking, tliat the first was soundest, brightest 

 and heaviest. The third mode I have not tried. 

 But it seems probable, that the grain might ac- 

 quire an increase of volume, though it would lose 

 again by depredation and waste. The first method 

 has these further advantages that it presei-ves the 

 cob from being saturated with rains, and secures 

 the fodder, when it is in its highest peifection ruul 

 greatest quanlit)'. 



