FARMERS' REGISTER 



539 



paper and then put ihem round the tree, vviih the 

 tarred side next to the tree, which cau^^ed it to ad- 

 here. Then he tarred the paper outside. 



With the aid of a boy he tarred the fifiy trees 

 in this way in a very short time, and the boy put 

 on tar every day until the season (or the worms 

 was over. This daily operation required but a 

 few minutes every time. The whole expense 

 was but a trifle — no more probably than would 

 be required in managing with the tin or leaden 

 troughs after tliey are on the trees. 



The trees in this case were well protected, 

 though a (ew worms were on the trees, probably 

 from eggs that were laid by crubs, that ascended 

 the trees in the I'aW or in pleasant days in winter. 



These did no material injury. To prevent this 

 email evil it would be well to tar in the fall, and 

 also in warm days in winter, and in the spring if 

 should be attended to daily till the season for the 

 worms to ascend is past. 



In the case here named the worms were so nu- 

 merous that they would somelimes form a bridge 

 almost across the tar in one night. If this or any 

 other good method of destroying canker worms 

 was carefully pursued by all who have orchards, 

 these depredators would soon become scarce, and 

 with little trouble their ravages would be almost 

 entirely prevented. 



EXPERiaiENT OF DEEP TILLAGE AND BREAK- 

 ING THE ROOTS OF CORN. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Little Rock, Jlrk., J]%ig. 15, 1840, 



In the May and June numbers of the Farmers' 

 Register, I see some remarks upon the culture of 

 Indian corn. I have long thought it strange that 

 this valuable plant had received eo small a share 

 of scientific attention. We are in the practice of 

 planting and cultivating as our fathers have done, 

 without once supposing that the cultivation o'i corn 

 could be improved. The object of these lines is 

 not. however, to discuss this subject, but to state a 

 fad in relation to root-breaking, &c. 



In April, 1834, I planted a small lot of corn. 

 The soil was a light eilicious soil, with a red clay 

 subsoil. I planted in hills at the distance of four 

 feet. The plough I used was a single coulter, 

 made of an inch and a half bar. With this sim- 

 ple instrument, (for I used no other,) I cultivated 

 my corn. The mode of using it was to run with- 

 in four inches of the corn-plan's, and not less than 

 seven or eight inches deep. This was perlbrmed 

 both ways, crossing at right angles eight inches 

 apart, the corn being in the middle of the square. 

 This severe and apparently destructive operation 

 was repeated four times durmg the growing of the 

 corn. The summer was very dry and warm, my 

 land quite arid. Notwithstanding, my corn- blades 

 did not twist at any time, which was a subject of 

 remark at the time. In the month of Septemb?r, 

 I had a part of the corn cut ofl" to make room for 

 a building ; when digging the foundation I found 

 roots more than 20 inches below the surface. 

 This was, no doubt, the reason of the vigorous 

 growth of the corn, the subsoil being more moist 

 than the surface, gave nouiishnient to the stalks. 

 The inference that I and one or two others drew 

 from the fact, was, that by cutting the roots and 



keeping the soil open and loose, the roots assumed 

 a vertical instead of a horizontal direction. Vio- 

 lent agitation of the earth about, and even break- 

 ing, the roots of many other kinds of plants, is by 

 no means injurious. The tobacco, when about to 

 stop its growth, if it be pulled so as to break many 

 roots and start the whole plant, will give it new 

 vigor. (This must be done during rain.) A wound 

 on trees, and even cutting away the whole of the 

 old wood is often beneficial. These remarks are 

 made for the consideration of these who may 

 have more information than 1 have. The whole 

 may be a mistake, or an exception to a general 

 rule. 



I design giving, at some futute period, a gene- 

 ral description ot the soils, natural productions and 

 resources of our state. I greatly desire to have 

 a lijil set of your Register, but must defer for a 

 while. Respectfully, 



W. W. Stevenson. 



THE PROPER CULTIVATION OF, AND ANNUAL 

 CROPS FOR PEACH ORCHARDS. 



To tlie Editor of tlie Farmers' Register. 



During the last twenty some odd years, a com- 

 munication has been almost annually going the 

 rounds of agricultural papers, the production of a 

 worthy man and a zealous, enterprising agricultu- 

 rist of Pennsylvania, a Mr. Colter, on the subject 

 of cultivating the peach tree. 



Many years ago, I determined on the cultiva- 

 tion of that fruit, with a view to distillation and 

 the fabrication of brandy ; but, before my orchard 

 had become productive, as tlie result of observa- 

 tion and much serious reflection, I determined 

 that, next to original sin, ardent spirits was the 

 greatest curse on earth ; and, consequently, deter- 

 mined to find some other outlet for my little por- 

 tion of industry and enterprise, less objectionable. 

 Passing through Virginia and North Carolina 

 about the same time, I found to my agreeable sur- 

 prise that, as an article in the production of ani- 

 mal food, the peach, if judiciously selected, and 

 managed, was not excelled, when every thing was 

 taken into view. I found, however, that the me- 

 thod suggested by Mr. Colier was opposed to a 

 judicious- and economical management of both 

 Iruit and soil. 



About the last of July, I found my little orchard 

 cultivated on this gentleman's plan perfectly pros- 

 trated — the trees lapped — it was painful to go 

 through it — and the load of f>uit lying on the 

 ground, part amongst the grass and weeds. For to 

 give the soil that degree of cultivation necessary 

 to keep it clean, v/as impossible. 



I became still (lirther satisfied, from facts before 

 me, that the ground amongst fruit trees cannot be 

 kept too loose, or too clear of grass and weeds. I 

 determined, therefore, that some ameliorating crop 

 must be found and annually cultivated among my 

 fruit trees to insure good fruit, and abundant crops, 

 as also lasting trees. In selecting this crop to carry 

 out my plan, which was to raise the peach for the 

 production of pork, I found that some of the pea 

 tribe, after the trees arrive at the bearing state, 

 and the potato, previously, were the only plants 

 unobjectionable ; and 1 found in this section of the 

 union va?ietiee of both, fully answering my vien"3, 



