1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



115 



For the New England Farmer. 

 COKN AND CORN STALKS. 



Among my earliest recollections of the corn 

 crop is seeingthe then universal practice pursued 

 of cutting the stalks. This was generally done 

 early in September. They were bound and stooked 

 the same day, and in two or three weeks, as the con- 

 ■venience of the farmer directed, they were housed 

 for winter fodder. It was an animating sight, 

 to see the ripe and ripening corn crops, the husks 

 falling from the long golden ears, reflective of 

 rich maturity as the sunbeams fell upon them. 

 But innovation was in due time to spoil these 

 beautiful features in the autumnal landscape. 

 Somebody tried the experiment in a cold season 

 of cutting up corn when half matured and stack- 

 ing it an indefinite period. Circumstances favored 

 the experiment. Perhaps an early frost cut off 

 the standing corn and prevented its attaining the 

 same degree of maturity with that which was cut 

 up. At any rate, the thing took, and for a few 

 years every farmer, nearly, adopted the practice 

 of cutting up his corn early, to ripen in stacks. 

 ]?or a year or two, I was among the popular 

 number that adopted this course, but my experi- 

 ence was so bitter that the "old fogy" arose with- 

 in me, and I returned to the old way, which I 

 have persistently followed. 



The objections that I found to the "new way," 

 were that it made a heavy work of harvesting ; 

 that in order to have the corn get sufficiently dry 

 for husking and housing, a length of time was 

 required that materially injured the stalks for 

 fodder, and, what was worse than all, the corn 

 was not so bright and heavy, while the good, 

 rich, old-fashioned golden puddings were out of 

 question. There was not the life or nutriment 

 in the meal, I find in that where the grain ripens 

 "the natural way." Such were my impressions, 

 at least, and in order to convince myself whether 

 it was a whim, 1 inquired of several millers, of 

 the relative value of corn harvested in the two 

 ways, and found them unanimous in declaring in 

 favor of grain ripened on the hills. 



Farmers, too, are beginning to see the diff"er- 

 ence as every year's observations go to show, 

 ■while some who still cut up their corn admit the 

 inferiority of their mode of harvesting, but plead 

 the saving of labor at the cost of the ultimite 

 value of the crop. Then others have taken the 

 other extreme, and question the propriety of dis- 

 turbing the stalks at all until the crop has ri- 

 pened. After the pollen has fallen fiom the tas- 

 sels, one service of the stalk is performed. Yet 

 there can be no doubt but the stalk and leaves 

 above the ear are of service in elaborating sap, 

 and in absorptions from the atmosphere long af- 

 ter the foUen has ceased to fall, and when the 

 tassel is becoming dry, and the greater the 

 amount of elaborated sap that is thrown into the 

 ear, the more rapidly it will mature, and the more 

 perfect its maturity. But when the leaves begin 

 to dry upon their edges, and exhibit around the 

 border a torn appearance, it matters but little 

 how soon the stalks are taken off, which should 

 always be done in fin- weather, and they put in 

 a condition to hay as fast as possible. A few fine 

 days will hay them thoroughly, and if they are 

 well secured, all kinds of stock will thrive upon 

 them. 



After the tops reach the condition above allud- 

 ed to, and are taken oft", the point of sepai-ation 

 soon dries over, so as to prevent the evaporation 

 of sap through the wound, and it is turned into 

 the ear to give the kernel maturity, while an in- 

 creased exposure to the sun urges forward the 

 ripening of the grain, which, matured in this way, 

 unless the stalk falls to let it on the ground, 

 will long remain uninjured by storms. 



Then the amount of fodder saved by cutting 

 up the butts at harvesting v.'ith the stalks already 

 properly secured, will not lose in comparison of 

 the fodder saved by cutting up the whole at once. 

 Stock will do well on the leaves of the butts if 

 fed to them in early winter, to the exclusion of 

 other fodder, which may, probably, if given out, 

 create a distaste for them ; for animals, like men, 

 will leave the less v.duable food for the best 

 when both are set before them. 



The idea of raising corn, is, first for the crop 

 of grain, the fodder coming in as an extra. Then, 

 the next thing is to get the largest amount of 

 sound, bright corn. This, in my experience, is 

 gained by cutting the stalks as soon as they be- 

 gin to show full maturity. If corn stalk fodder 

 is the thing sought, the better way is, to sow 

 broadcast, and harvest when the stalks have at- 

 tained their growth. W. Bacon. 



Bichmond, Jan., 1859. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 WHEN AND HOW TO USB MANURES. 



Mr. Editor : — Being a reader of the N'. E. 

 Farmer (monthly,) I notice that there are various 

 theories about the use of green vianures, especial- 

 ly that taken out of "barn cellars." More par- 

 ticularly a communication from A. Ward, in the 

 December number of 1858, and one from R. 

 Maxsfield, in the January number of 1859. Mr. 

 W. seems to be at a loss how to apply his ma- 

 nure, and Mr. M. seems to suggest the idea that 

 the south side of, and under the eaves of the barn, 

 is the most suitable place for manure to be kept, 

 and as my experience and practice is rather dif- 

 ferent from that of Mr. M., I venture to give my 

 experience in corn raising for the last three years. 



Four years ago a cellar was made under my 

 barn 8 feet deep, for a shed for cattle and deposit 

 for manure, the cattle being kept in the stable 

 above, the manure falling directly underneath, 

 and thus receiving the urine of the cattle. I cut 

 all kinds of fodder except haj', and what is left, 

 if any, is used for litter ; thus my manure in the 

 spring is ail fine, and I am not troubled with what 

 is called "long manure." 



My practice has been, generally, to break up 

 my green sward, which is a sandy loam from 8 

 to 10 inches deep, late in the fall; in the spring 

 roll my ground, cart out my manure in its green 

 and crude state, from 15 to 18 cords to the acre. 

 Spread upon the ground and immediately give it 

 a thorough harrowing, or cultivating so as to 

 thoroughly mix the manure with the soil ; then, 

 just before planting, plow the ground from 3 to 

 5 inches, and harrow again. For the last three 

 years I have raised from GO to 70 bushels of corn 

 per acre. My success I attribute to the strength 

 and thorough mixture of the manure with the soil 

 I All the manure from my cattle, horses and 



