C 151 3 



On planting Indian Corny by John Steele ^ Esq. 



Read February 9, 1813. 



Custom House^ Fhilacl. Feb. 2, 1813, 



Dear Sir^ 



Agreeably to request made in your note of the 25th 

 ult. I proceed to give you a short account of the me- 

 thod I have practiced, for several years, in the culture 

 of Indian corn, together with a brief description of the 

 implements employed for that purpose. 



I plough the ground, carefully, about six inches 

 deep, after which I spread lime, at the rate of 45 or 

 50 bushels to the acre, which I mix with the surface, 

 by the use of the common harrow, then mark the 

 ground, with a shallow furrow, for planting, (the com 

 rows five feet apart,) drop the seed three or four feet 

 from hill to hill, and cover in the usual manner. 



When the corn is up to the height of three or four 

 inches, I give each row a stroke with a common har- 

 row, relieving any of the plants that may be covered 

 in the operation, with a small rake adapted to the pur- 

 pose — when this is completed, or within a few days 

 after, I commence what is generally termed moulding. 

 — This is performed by two strokes, between each of 

 the rows, with what I call a coulter harrov/, (its teeth 

 being coulters in miniature,) which completely mel- 

 lows the ground, by cutting through the furrow, and 

 much closer to the corn, than it is possible with any 

 other instrument I have used, leaving the vegetable 

 surface, turned down in the ploughing, in the same 



