316 Oji Indian Cor ft , Potatoes^ ^c, 



striking the smaiier angles, require mathematical pro- 

 portion, to admit ready and eftectual cultivation. The 

 four furrow wheat drill in your repository, will furnish 

 simple principles for forming a very cheap implement, 

 to effect this purpose. 



For dropping the seed, cut an elder stalk of about 

 one inch diameter, just below a limb, which will form 

 a handle ; cut and hollow it out above, to hold the 

 number of grains planted, paring the upper edge thin : 

 with this and a small basket, a little boy or girl may 

 drop three times more than a man in the usual way, 

 and more correctly. If two plants are designed at each 

 angle, eight or ten grains should be planted ; for nu- 

 merous birds, and cut- worms, will have their share, 

 and some of the seed will rot, and many that vegetate 

 will not get through the soil. The extra expense of 

 seed is scarcely worth consideration ; while replanting 

 is very expensive. Where the planting fails, it u ill 

 be more profitable to introduce three or four bunch 

 beans, or a potatoe, for neither require hilling, if plant- 

 ed at a proper depth, and the latter will certainly be 

 more profitable than replanted corn. The seed should 

 be covered no deeper, than one inch, with the loosest, 

 moistest, and best mould at hand ; and no clods, or 

 other obstacles introduced ; moderately patting this 

 covering with the hoe, to secure the moisture. If the 

 soil should form a crust over the seed, near the time 

 of its coming up, the clusters must be daily examin- 

 ed, and when the points of the plants turn downward, 

 they should be liberated immediately, by carefully 

 breaking the crust. I have saved one field of corn by 

 this practice, which must have perished without as- 



