196 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



But if the ground has been much reduced by 

 bad husbandry, or the corn be planted in a clay 

 poil, it should be thinned lo two stalks in a hill. 

 This would give 5445 stalks to the acre, if none 

 be missing, and a product of 54 45-100 bushels, 

 supposing each hundred ears to make a bushel. 

 But it must be recollected, that if the soil is not 

 good the cars may be less, and the product con- 

 eequentiy diminished. 



if oak land be of the poorer kind, it maybe 

 necessary to increase the distance. If 4^ f'-et 

 ehould be deemed necessary this would give 2150 

 hills, and 4300 stalks per acre, allowing two lor 

 each hill. 



Ground may be so very poor as not to be capa- 

 ble of sustaining more than one stalk in a hill. 

 It might then be planted four feet each way, 

 which would give 2722 stalks per acre. 



Some larmers are of opinion, that drilling is a 

 better method of planting to serure large crops. 

 With extraordinary care in [jlaniing and cultivat- 

 ing a small crop, it is probable a larger yield may 

 be obtained. But the advantages of a small in- 

 crease of product per acre will not be equivalent 

 to the increased labor in cultivating the corn, 

 cutting, shocking, hauling of fodder, &c. I 

 would, therelbre, by no means recommend the 

 drilling of corn as a general practice. 



When planted in squares it can be ploughed 

 both ways, be belter cultivated and with much 

 less manual labor. As soon after the corn is 

 planted as practicable, a single furrow with a 

 shovel plough should be run between the rows, in 

 a direction opposite to that in which it was plant- 

 ed. This is an eii'ectual secuiiiy against the corn 

 being washed uj) by heavy rains, and prepares the 

 ground (or the next plouiihmg, which should be 

 in the direciion in which ii was planted, unless 

 the ground be very litul. In that case it may be 

 proper lo run two additional furrows in which the 

 shovel plough had previously run, throwing the 

 dirt from the corn. 



If the ground be tolerably level, and have but 

 few stumps in it, a large harrow may be used to 

 Rdvantage, when the corn is about (our or five 

 inches high. The horses by which the harrow is 

 drawn should be made to walk between alternate 

 rows, and the harrow dragged over the corn, hav- 

 ing previously removed such of the teeth as 

 would come in coniact with the young plants. 

 This process is deemed very important by some 

 larmers in the cultivation of the crop ; and where 

 the ground is very weedy, is well calculated lo 

 keep them under till the corn is large enough to 

 hoe. But if the ground in which the corn is 

 planted has been sufficiently frewd from weeds, 

 and properly prepared by previous ploughing and 

 harrowing, the alter harrowing may be dispensed 

 with. 



A small barshare, Dudley, or coulter, or McCor- 

 raack plough may be next used, running the bar 

 next the corn, and throwing the dirt in the 

 middle. The hoes should follow to clear the hills 

 from weeds and grass ; o.", if they be very small, 

 cutting away those adjacent to the young plants, 

 and covering up those standing in the hdl, by 

 drawing some light mould around the corn. It is 

 very important in this stage of the crop to de- 

 part of the season was entirely too wet, but after the 

 let of July was very favorable. 



stroy the weeds and grass growing among the 

 young plants. If the operation be well perlormed 

 the plough alone will be sufficient aderwards lo 

 keep ihe corn free from weeds and grass. 



Various opinions are entertained as to the best 

 kind of plough lo be used in the cultivation of the 

 corn ciop. Afier the f'loughing which is ac- 

 companied by the hoes, I have used the shovel 

 plough in prelerence to all othepe. It is the most 

 economical, beinir the least expensive, in the first 

 instance, and costs less to keep it in repair. It 

 requires a narrower head land at the end of the 

 rows for turning, and in consequence of the ease 

 with which it can be managed will break down 

 less corn. It ploughs deeper, 'throws a wider 

 furrow, leaves ihe ground in a state less liable to 

 wash, and works the corn better, and does more 

 work than any plough I have tried. If must be 

 remarked, however, that if corn ground is allowed 

 10 become loul with grass, especially (oxtail, the 

 shovel plough will not answer as well as some 

 others, alter the grass has obtained a complete 

 set, and a luxuriant growth. But if taken in time, 

 no plough answers better to keep ii under; and 

 corn should be ploughed so frequently as to pre- 

 vent grass from gelling to such a size as not to be 

 easily destroyed by stirring the ground. It 

 should be ploughed alternately, each way, and 

 deep enough \o cut ihe roots between the rows. 

 This, so far (i-om injuring the corn, will much as- 

 sist iis iirowth, as young roots will quickly shoot 

 (brill, whenever ihe old ones are broken, and these 

 will liirnish nutrition to the growing corn more 

 rapidly than the old ones. In a word, there need 

 be no fear of injuring corn by e-uliivatinif it too 

 nmch, if care be taken lo work it only when 

 the ground is in proper condiiion. My experi- 

 ence is noi sufficient to enable me lo speak of the 

 cultivator as a substitute for the shovel plough. 

 It is well worthy of trial, and where the ground 

 is free from slumps, or nearly so, it might be used 

 to great advantage in preparing corn ground for 

 sowing wheal, and in putting in that crop, as it 

 would leave a more level surlace than the shovel 

 plough. But if the plough should be preferred, 

 so lar as nny experience extends, next to the 

 shovel, I would recommend the Dudley plough. 

 This is somewhat like the JMcQormack plough, 

 except that it is made of wrought, instead of cast 

 iron, and is in one entire piece, instead of having 

 a detached mould board. In that respect it has 

 the advantage of the McCormack plough, which, 

 at the joining of the share and mould board, can- 

 not make so nice a fit, as where it is all in one 

 piece. It is also lighter and scours, or wears 

 smooth, and kept so much easier than cast iron 

 mould boards, the latter being much more liable 

 to rust than wrought iron. I Is greatest disadvan- 

 tage is the difficulty of repairing by unskilful 

 smiths. 



The number of times corn should be ploughed, 

 must depend upon the nature of the soil, and other 

 circumstances, of which the judicious /armer will 

 be the best judge. In grass lands, which are 

 generally, in a great degree, free from weeds, 

 three or four ploughings may suffice; in very 

 weedy ground, five or six may be necessary. In 

 general, nothing is lost by frequent ploughing, as 

 the crop will be better, and the weeds will be 

 prevented from seeding the ground, for a future 

 crop. 



