1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



445 



best method, without finding any evil of this kind 

 — and certainly cotton seed would be more apt to 

 be moved along by the straight tooth of a harrow, 

 than corn. My opportunity did not permit me to 

 estimate the saving of labor gained by this pro- 

 cess — but there is no doubt of its having been 

 very considerable, if the plan is considered merely 

 as a substitute lor covering the seed, besides nil 

 the benefit gained in putting the land in good con- 

 dition for the growth, and after tillage, of the 

 crop. 



E. R. 



For the Fanners' Register. 

 TO LESSEN THE COST OF RE-PLANTING 

 CORN. REMEDIES FOR THE CUT WORM. 



The re-planting in our corn fields, made neces- 

 sary by the depredations of vermin ol various 

 kinds, and especially by the cutworm, is a serious 

 evil to almost every farmer. The cut worm is 

 most destructive on clover lands, or others not 

 grazed, and particularly when the breaking up of 

 the laud for the crop of corn has been delayed un- 

 til the latter part of the winter, or beginning of 

 spring. Though I have rarely been a sufferer on 

 account of late planting, it happened so this year. 

 Owing to the excessive cold and wet winter, a 

 part of my field could not be ploughed until late — 

 and much the greater part of the first planting 

 failed to stand. Without such uncommon cause of 

 destruction, it may be safely counted on that the 

 labor of re-planting and the transplanting of corn, 

 on all (arms not grazed, is not less than that of the 

 first general planting — and the loss of crop, owing 

 to the lateness of the products of such plantings, is 

 of more amount than the cost of the labor. 



The preparing ot seed corn with tar, oil, sulphur 

 and lime, as described page 22, Vol. I. Farmers' 

 Register, should never be neglected, as a defence 

 of greater or less value, against animals which de- 

 vour the seeds. But heretofore no sufficient rem- 

 edy has been made known, (or the after destroyers 

 of the young plants, among which the cut worm 

 stands most prominent. Many remedies have 

 been published — but early ploughing, (which 

 cannot be effected in all seasons,) seems the only 

 one of much value, and even that is but a partial 

 defence. The various other remedies have either 

 been too costly (even if effectual) or opposed to 

 the improvement of the land, as is the case with 

 the plan of burning off the vegetable matter. 



A friend of mine who is a farmer of enlighten- 

 ed views and accurate observation, in Dinwiddie, 

 lately informed me of his having this year made 

 trial of putting drawn ashes mixed with gypsum 

 to each hill or station of corn, according to the. 

 manner described at page 700, Vol, II. Farmers' 

 Register. The crop appeared to him to be much 

 improved by the application — though it falls very 

 far short of the results which have been reported 

 of a similar practice in Maryland. But what 

 struck him more forcibly than the increased growth 

 of crop, was that the corn so treated, stood re- 

 markably well, while the other and adjacent corn, 

 suffered much by the ravages of cut worms. The 

 precise manner in which this benefit was pro- 

 duced had not occurred to him — nor did it to my 

 mind, until after seeing the. following passage in the 

 last Tennessee Farmer, which states similar re- 

 sults of the like process. 



"We are assured by a gentleman of our acquain- 

 tance, that during the last spring, he tried the following 

 method on two fields in which the ravages of the cut 

 worm threatened a total destruction of the crop, and 

 that in both instances it was attended with complete 

 success. As the application of this remedy will cer- 

 tainly produce an increase of crop, amply sufficient to 

 compensate for the labor and expense of applying it, 

 whatever may be its effect in preventing the ravages 

 of the cut worm, we earnestly recommend to every 

 fanner and planter to give it a full and fair trial. That 

 the gypsum or plaster is highly beneficial in promo- 

 ting the growth of the corn, we know from repeated 

 experiments, but we presume, that the efficacy of the 

 application in preventing the ravages of the cut worm 

 is to be attributed to the ashes — lime would probably 

 be equally, if not more effectual, in accomplishing the 

 same object. The remedy recommended is the follow- 

 ing: 



"As soon as the corn is covered with earth, let a 

 hand follow, having a bag hanging at bis side, contain- 

 ing ashes and plaster mixed, one-third of the latter, 

 and two-thirds of the former, or ashes alone, either 

 leached or unleached — the latter would probably be 

 preferable — and let him drop a handful on each hill of 

 corn. We would recommend, where it can be obtain- 

 ed, the partial substitution of lime for ashes, in which 

 case, to preserve the hands of the dropper from inju- 

 ry, it will be necessary for him to use a cup, shell, or 

 gourd, with which to take up the lime — each bag 

 should be large enough to contain as much of the sub- 

 stance used as the dropper can conveniently carry." 

 In our use of ashes and plaster, they were 



dropped on the seed corn and covered with it. The 

 effect on the crop was decidedly and greatly beneficial. 

 For pre venting the ravages of the cutworm, there is good 

 reason to believe, that it would be best to deposite the 

 ashes on the bill after the corn is covered, and this 

 mode will probably be found, nearly, if not quite as 

 beneficial in increasing the crop." 



It appears to me that the suggestion of substi- 

 tuting quicklime is well worthy of attention. A 

 very small quan<ity of this substance, not making 

 a tenth of the compound, would suffice — and a 

 larger addition might be hurtful to the young 

 plants. The lime, however, in the compounds 

 used, was mild, and therefore not destructive of in- 

 sects by its retaining a caustic or burning quality. 

 Perhaps a still smaller quantity of salt, would 

 also be serviceable. Both quicklime and salt 

 are known to be destructive to many insects, and 

 would aid the object in view, of keeping the cut 

 worms away from the plants until out of danger. 

 The Horticultural Register says that "fine salt 

 sown immediately after seeds are put into the 

 ground, at the rate of two bushels to the acre, will 

 destroy grub worms." If so small a quantity of 

 salt, sown broad-cast, could have such effect, 

 (which may well be doubted,) as much benefit 

 might be expected from the preventive action of 

 a lew grains' weight of salt applied close around 

 the seeds. Even if the application of the mix- 

 ture had no effect as manure, but served effectual- 

 ly to guard against this one enemy, the cost 

 would be well remunerated. But there can be 

 but little doubt of causing besides enough increase 

 of fertility, to make the application profitable on 

 that score. 



It may be deemed rather hasty in me to re- 

 commend practices which I have not yet tried. 

 But my object is to induce others to make full 

 trial next spring, as I propose to do, with the 

 plaster and ashes in the proportions above stated 

 — with ashes containing all their salts, or deprived 



