No. 2. 



The Corn Crop and its Enemies. — Soils. 



61 



the Cabinet, you were to give an engraving 

 of what in those days was considered the ne 

 plus ultra of ploughs, showing the great im- 

 provements that have since been made in 

 their construction, especially in this land of 

 essences, as it has very properly been termed. 

 I have the book in my possession, and it is at 

 your service for this purpose, whenever you 

 may require it. 



In the hope that the coming trial of ploughs 

 and ploughmen will be creditable to the So- 

 ciety and beneficial in its results to the cause 

 of all causes, I am, your subscriber, 



T. VV. 



September 4, 1841. 



We shall be obliged if T. W. will favour us with the 

 loan of Tull's Husbandry ; it can be left for us at the 

 office, No. 50, north 4th street.— Ed. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 The Corn Crop and its Enemies. 



While the soil of this country is well 

 adapted to the growth of all the grains which 

 are usually cultivated in this latitude, still, 

 that of Indian-corn may be styled (he crop of 

 this section ; as it is believed by our farmers 

 to be the most certain in its produce, and 

 most profitable in its culture. Yet, within a 

 few years it would seem as if even this crop 

 was doomed to be less productive, by the de- 

 predations of certain insects not common in 

 former years. The present season the corn 

 crop with us has suffered perhaps more than 

 in any previous year, by the ravages of the 

 several insects which prey upon it: and if any 

 of your many excellent correspondents have 

 a knowledge of any preventive against the 

 deadly enemies of this valuable crop, I beg 

 they will make it public for the especial 

 benefit of your subscribers in this district. 



The first enemy of the corn crop is the 

 "grub worm" which attacks the vegetable 

 as soon as it shoots from the grain; but its 

 depredations last only for a limited period, 

 seeming to glut its appetite for the season, 

 and cease its feeding in about ten days. The 

 next and more fatal enemy, is the "toire 

 tvnrm" which, upon the departure of the 

 "grub," (and sometimes in connection with 

 it,) enters the tender plant inside the blades, 

 cuts off the main stalk, and continues its ra- 

 vages so long as there remains aught of sap 

 (which seems to be its food) to support it. If 

 tiie soil is rich, the corn will outgrow the 

 workings of the "grub," and if not too se- 

 vere, the strength of a good soil will some- 

 times produce good corn, even where the 

 "wire worm" has existed; but, generally, 

 these last leave the stalk with the main root 

 entirely cut off, and the plant only receives 

 its nourishment from the lateral roots, and in 

 this state seldom produces full ears. Besides, 



corn thus attacked by the above-named in- 

 sects, appears to be left the prey of yet an- 

 other tribe of depredators, and the present 

 year we find acres in our richest soils, at this 

 very hour, suflering the gnawings of a blue 

 louse, in the lateral roots, (the main root being 

 entirely dead by the workings of the other 

 enemies,) which in many instances prevents 

 the stalk from even setting an ear. 



The corn crop of Salem county, the pre- 

 sent year, I think, may be set down at one- 

 fourth less than the last, and chiefly from the 

 above-stated causes. I am aware that some 

 farmers think fall ploughing destructive to 

 the eggs and larvae of the insects, but it 

 proves here no preventive against their de- 

 predations. Others think heavy liming de- 

 stroys them. This last, I think it is con- 

 ceded, quickens the soil, and is advantageous 

 in shooting the plant beyond the worst effects 

 of the worms; but whether it is destructive 

 to these large armies of little insects, is 

 doubtful. 



I think this subject a good one for your sci- 

 entific and "chemical" farmers to speculate 

 upon. My own opinion is, that a thorough 

 knowledge of chemistry will enable some 

 practical agriculturist ere long to produce 

 something poisonous to the animal, while it 

 shall prove nourishing to vegetable life. G. 

 Salem, N. J., 8th mo. 30, 1841. 



Soils. 



The most productive soil is that which is 

 so constituted as to maintain such a degree 

 of moisture in very dry, and in very wet sea- 

 sons, only to give a healthy supply of it to 

 the plants. Such a soil gives to the plants 

 the means of fixing their roots sufficiently 

 deep to support them during the period of 

 their growth, and allows them to ramify in 

 every direction in search of nourishment; 

 where they may easily abstract the elements 

 of vegetable life, without being injured by a 

 redundant or a deficient supply of moisture 

 during any period of their growth. A con- 

 stant supply of air and water is necessary to 

 make and keep the soil permanently produc- 

 tive: when the soil is made and kept friable, 

 it will have the power of absorbing, retaining 

 and decomposing the water, the air, and the 

 organic matter which may be in its composi- 

 tion, by insensible fermentation, and give up 

 a constant supply of the results of this de- 

 composition for the growth of plants, either 

 at seed time, when they are merely vegetat- 

 ing — in summer, when they are growing with 

 the greatest luxuriance — or in autumn, when 

 they are ripening their seed for harvest.— 

 Selected. 



All infallible receipts for the cure of dis- 

 eases are infallible nonsense. 



