1839] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



82 



ere at fault themselves; expecting an unreasona- 

 ble return, and planting too thickly. But the pro- 

 lific delights exceedingly in someih'mfr stimulating 

 and nutritious. It is weaker in draught than the 

 large corn, which is proved hy the liict, that if 

 they are planted in alternate rows, the large corn 

 will beat it readily. Good authority, in my neigh- 

 borhood, asserts, that a better croj) of wheat ibl- 

 lows it, than will tollow the larger corn, which 

 sustains my observation. I think that the prolific 

 corn will recover its reputation after a while, unless 

 we can find a better. I shall plant a few acres of 

 the genuine Baden corn this season, received from 

 Thomas H. Baden himself. 



I have tried the "cor/i-sitcA'-er" question too, and 

 would in reference to the matter say, that to in- 

 sure in this climate, a good return of sucker-corn, 

 we should have a very rich soil, which must be 

 deeply ploughed ; the seed should be planted at 

 something like double distance, the crop thorough- 

 ly cultivated, and have an unusual supply of rain 

 throughout July and August. Without tliese pre- 

 requisites, muck hope, but little corn will our fields 

 produce. I should call this a humbug. I think it, 

 and am satisfied. With the two parent stalks, [ 

 liad sometimes as many as nine stalks, from seven 

 to ten feet high, standing at about five by three 

 feet distance. But lacking the great prerequisites, 

 and finding that both parents and children would 

 perish, in the midst of the season, 1 thrust in the 

 knife, cut olf the suckers, and so, succeeded in 

 earing the stalks only tolerably. Theory and fact 

 will sometimes disagree. 



Of seed-corn. I commenced a trial of the com- 

 parative value of seed from the lop, and from the 

 under ears of the most prolific stalks. The season 

 was so dry last j'ear, however, that it left me in 

 great uncertainty. I lelt glad to find even one on 

 a stalk. Thousands had none. The observation 



culture will object to the probably high beds, 

 which will result from twice throwing dirt to the 

 corn; but we again appeal to experience, to fact. 

 Many cases, of the most striking character, can 

 be adduced in this quarter in proof of the correct- 

 ness of the practice. Thorough-cultivation seems 

 to be all-important in a drought, while it is admit- 

 ted that the superficial plans will answer well in 

 ordinary seasons. 



Lastly of the nine-lot system. The opinion of 

 the editor, is respectfully requested as to the pro- 

 priety of the plan. For the improvement of an ex- 

 hausted iarra, I have divided it into a standing pas- 

 ture, and nine other parts for cultivation, viz: two 

 parts to be in cultivation every other year in corn, 

 to be Ibllowed by wheat. These contain between 

 ibrty and sixty acres each, are marled, or nearly 

 so, and are to receive all the manure that can be 

 raised — dry leaves, soil from the woods, and 

 swamp-mud, excepted, which will be put on oth- 

 er lots also; so that the rotation and treatment are, 

 manure, corn, vvheat. Then come three lots, to 

 be cultivated in corn, wheat and oats, clover, with 

 help fi-om the woods, swamp and marl. These 

 will contain only about twelve acres each. The 

 balance of the arable land will make four lots, to 

 be improved by marl, &c., and cultivated in corn, 

 wheat, &c., and clover. Under this S3'stem, I 

 work one of each of the lots annually. I think 

 I he lour- field system possessed of some advanta- 

 ges over this, but it also, has its objectionable 

 points. My greatest difficulties are to be found, I 

 lear, (tor I only commenced it last year,) in sup- 

 port lor my stock in summer, and the uncertainty 

 of getting clover to "stick" or take on poor land. 

 Without marl, there would be no hope of it. It 

 is my opinion, which is based on last year's trial, 

 that such land can be restored by repeated pea- 

 fallows, green, sooner, and at a smaller expense, 



made hy me, however, led me to preler the top tlian it can be done by clover. I obtained a fine 

 ear. Whether it is more productive or not, time {fallow of peas after wheat, last year. The edi- 

 may yet prove. It is generally larger, and is pro- 



bably more perfectly matured, if we understand 

 the philosophy and physiology of the corn-plant. 

 Of the corn-culture. What I have now to oi- 

 ler, is neither my own nor new, but it seems to 

 nie to be very valuable. An excellent manager 

 in King William, Mr. John Luckhard, has pro- 

 bably lor many years practised it, besides many 

 who have received it from him. Not to go into 

 the minutia? of the culture, I wish to stale, thRt 

 the most successful plan, (circumstances consi- 

 ered,) consists in '•siding'''' the corn, [turning off 

 the earth from the stalk,] with lour furrows, 

 which is generally done m stiff land — the last two 

 being very superficial. The hoes now clear the 

 plants of grass by a cross-wise stroke, so as to re- 

 move it from the top of the bed ; this is followed 

 by the usual course, of what is called throwing 

 dirt to the corn. And then comes the plan pro- 

 posed. Instead of the introduction of the cultiva- 

 tor now, the plough is continued, running the first 

 furrow near the corn, but very superficialltj; the 

 next is to be deeper and so on, until the whole 



lor will please give me his opinion, or advice as 

 lo these matters. J. Du Val. 



King 4- Queen county, Feb. 2d, 1839. 



From the London Horticultural Journal. 

 ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 



The Horticultural and Agricultural Societies of 

 Paris have lately been directing their attention to 

 the value of the receipt left by M. Jauffret, for 

 making artificial manure. It was at the request 

 of the minister of agriculture, that the Royal and 

 Central Society of the Seine undertook the exam- 

 ination of this question : and M. Quenard having, 

 about the same lime, laid befbre the society two 

 modes of fabricating manure, different from M, 

 Jauffret's plan, it was determined to compare the 

 respective plans together, and determine on their 

 relative utility. M. Quenard is secretary of the 

 Agricultural Society of Monlargie, and is esteem- 

 One of his ma- 



ed as an experienced cultivator, 

 nures is a species of compost, and the other is 

 space is thoroughly broken. The corn, during j analogous in principle lo the preparation oi' M 



this last ploughing is large, too large, many thin 

 to bear such treatment. But this appears to he 

 the only successful course for a dry season. It 

 will succeed well in a wet season also, but its pe- 

 culiar value is owing to its eflects in the absence 

 of rain. Those who advocate the level system of 



Jauffret. As this subject is considered of great 

 importance in France, we have thought fit to lay 

 belbre our readers a concise account of M. Que- 

 nard's method of proceeding, premising that the 

 commissioners appointed by the Royal Society of 

 Paris have not vet given in their report. 



