FARMERS' REGISTER— NEW LONDON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 487 



rina is furnished in such abundance, that if the tassels 

 of every second row of corn (or perhaps thrice as 

 many) were taken off before the male blossoms open- 

 ed, the remainder would be enough to impregnate all 

 the plants in the field. But for the trouble of such a 

 process, there is little doubt but that it might be pro- 

 fitable, and certainly, not hurtful to the crop. To form 

 the fcirina, the plant must make some eflbrt, and there- 

 by its powers be somewhat exhausted — and if that is 

 prevented, (by removing the male blossoms) that ef- 

 foit would be directed to increase its grain, which 

 would be as well impregnated from other plants. The 

 benefit (under this supposition) would be similar to 

 that found in the increased tendency to fatten caused 

 by the castration of male animals. Soon after this 

 function is performed by the tassels, they wither and 

 become dry, and are evidently worthless as a part of 

 the still green plant — which is another reason for be- 

 lieving that their being removed earlier could have 

 done no harm. But whether the drawing out the tas- 

 sel early would do good, or merely be not hurtful, it is 

 altogether different from removing the top with all the 

 leaves above the ear — and still more different from that 

 process, when preceded (as usual in the South) by 

 stripping all the blades below the ear — leaving none to 

 prevent the speedy death of the before green plant. 



Neither could it much affect the question if the very 

 early cutting of the tops in Mr. Sanborn's experiment 

 did no more harm than he believed. "When mutilated 

 so early, the plant has time to recover by means of the 

 leaves left, and it lives long enough still to provide 

 enough aliment to the grain. But when this is done 

 near the close of the plant's life, and when all the 

 leaves are taken at once, or within a few days' time, 

 no other effort can be made by nature, and the plant 

 dies from the mutilation. A healthy child, or robust 

 youth, may have both legs amputated, and not onl}' re- 

 cover, but appear as well, and live as long, as if no 

 such loss had beeij suffered. Indeed, if only a single 

 case of this kind had been noticed, it would not be 

 very strange that such a loss of limbs might be sup- 

 posed, (however unreasonably,) rather to increase the 

 developement of the other limbs, and perhaps of the 

 man, in his general health and bodily powers. But 

 certainly it would be a most strange conclusion, that 

 because the man could bear this early loss, the like 

 might be inflicted as safely, when his life was nearly 

 ended, and all his remaining energies were wanting for 

 some last effort. 



In addition to the loss in the growth of the grain 

 supposed to be caused by the usual mode of gathering 

 fodder, there are other important considerations to 

 which we wish to direct the attention of those who 

 will make experiments next year, for the purpose of 

 testing the truth of either opinion. The loss of corn 

 in ears broken off in gathering fodder, is very great, 

 but cannot well be estimated by itself. There is ano- 

 ther expense, however, which may well be estimated 

 — the actual cost of gathering and securing a crop of 

 blade and top fodder — and if properly estimated, we 

 suspect it would (in the average of seasons) be found 

 to ajnount so nearly to the value of the crop secured, 



as to leave the diminution of the grain (whatever that 

 may be) almost a clear loss. We have never heard of 

 such an experiment but once. This was made in 1833 

 by a very attentive and industrious farmer, whose work 

 is generally executed well and economically, and who 

 may be relied on for the accuracy of his observations 

 and statements. He had no labor to furnish for secur- 

 ing his fodder (from a field of very good corn,) except 

 that of some able young fellows then cutting wood for 

 sale, and who were hired at the high rate of $9 the 

 month. They gathered and secured the fodder— and 

 from an accurate account of the time and expense, the 

 labor alone made the fodder cost its owner sixty-six 

 cents the one hundred pounds, which is nearly its usu- 

 al price at the stacks, after good seasons. The blades 

 were stripped to the tassel, and of course, no tops 

 were cut. In addition to the crop being very good, 

 and of course being the more profitable to gather, the 

 season was good, and nothing lost by bad weather. A 

 different report would iiave to be made of such a sea- 

 son as the last, when the fodder was half burnt before 

 being pulled, and a spell often days rainy weather oc- 

 cuiTed before the whole crop could be secured. 



As yet, there has been nothing known on this import- 

 ant subject in the Southern States, from actual expe- 

 riments. Nothing is better worth the attention and in- 

 vestigations of our new agricultural societies — and if 

 a series of experiments were instituted, which would 

 clearly settle all doubts on the subject, the reports 

 thereof might prevent the loss of millions of dollars to 

 the farmers of this region. One such series of experi- 

 ments, carefully observed, and satisfactorily reported, 

 would do more for the welfare of agriculture, than all 

 the labors of all the agricultural societies that have yet 

 existed in Virginia. And yet this would be but one of 

 a thousand such benefits which their properly directed 

 labors and investigations might produce.] 



For the Farmers' Register. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW I.0.^"D01^• AGRI- 

 CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The first Show and Fair, (fufly attended,) of the 

 New London Atrricuhural Society, was held at 

 New London, on the first Tuesday and Wednes- 

 day of November, 1834. 



FIRST DAY, 



Hector Harris, chairman of the committee on 

 Oriorinal Essays on Rural Economy, made a re- 

 port', recommendinfT the Essay, by Achilles D. 

 Johnson, of Campbell, as entitled to the society's 

 premiumj which was adopted, and the premium 

 awarded. 



William L. Bell, chairman of the committee on 

 grain crops, made a report, recommending that 

 the society's premium for the highest product of 

 maize, on any two contiguous acres, be given to 

 Charles Anthony, of Campbell, for 190 bushels of 

 good merchantable corn, maile on two acres of al- 

 luvial land, (rich river bottom;) and stating that 

 Benjamin A. Donald, of Bedford, and Alexander 

 Austin, of Campbell, were also competitors for the 

 same premium; the former of whom had produced 

 from two acres of allu\ial land (a rich old mill 



