98 AGRICULTURE. 



ly to follow or to precede any other cereal crop ; 

 and that it should not be found oftener than once in 

 six years in the same field. 



The seed should be taken from the finest ears of 

 the last year's crop, and from those growing on 

 stems which have had the largest number of ears. 

 After steeping it twenty-four hours in a strong so- 

 lution of nitre, it should be planted.* 



There is some difference of practice, without any 

 great difference of result, in the modes of planting. 

 Furrows are sometimes made at the distance of 

 three or four feet from each other, and in one direc- 

 tion only, and in these the seed is placed fourteen 

 or sixteen inches apart. At other times the field is 

 furrowed both ways, and the seed dropped and cov- 

 ered at the points of intersection ; while, again, two 

 rows of beans or potatoes, or mangel wurzel, are 

 sometimes interposed between as many rows of 

 corn. This last practice is most conformable to 

 theory; but the other methods generally prevail, 

 and pumpkins, beans, or turnips form the under 

 crops. 



Whatever method be adopted, the time of planting 

 is that at which the earth first acquires the warmth 

 necessary to vegetation, and which is sufficiently 

 indicated by her spontaneous productions. If we 

 plant earlier, the seed is apt to rot ; if later, the 

 ripening of the crop is hazarded. 



No crop, while growing, requires more attention 

 than corn, and none better repays the labour be- 

 stowed upon it. The objects of this are two : to 

 extirpate weeds, and to keep the earth loose and 

 open to the influences of the atmosphere. As soon, 

 therefore, as weeds begin to show themselves, the 

 surface of the field must be well harrowed. Plas- 

 tering is the next operation, and may, at the dis- 



* See in Judge Peters's Notices to Young Farmers, the effect 

 of this solution on com crops. 



