238 



Mode of Raising Corn. 



Vol. XII. 



deep about the first of May, and planted on 

 the third or fourth; hills three feet apart: 

 six kernels in the hill ; fifty loads of half- 

 rotted manure were spread on after plough- 

 ing, and harrowed in as well as it could be; 

 besides this, a hoe-full of the best compost 

 manure was put into the hill. It was hoed 

 twice, the cultivator being used — and the 

 product was 70^ bushels, which, at 50 cents 

 per bushel, amounts to $35 25. The cost of 

 cultivation was $20 68, leaving a balance of 

 $14 37 for the use of the land. 



In the second experiment the hills were 

 three feet by two apart, six kernels in the 

 hill, without manure; cost of cultivation, 

 $9 12 ; product, $30 12 to the acre, leaving 

 a balance of $21. 



In the third experiment, hills were made 

 same distance as before, six kernels in the 

 hill; was manured by filling each furrow as 

 it was ploughed, full of barn-yard manure, 

 unfermented, at the rate of 150 loads to the 

 acre ; expense of producing, $29 37 ; pro 

 duct, 70 bushels, amounting to $35; balance 

 for use of land, $5 63. 



The fourth experiment was the same in 

 regard to distance and the number of ker- 

 nels; manured with coarse manure, in the 

 same way, and also with a top-dressing of 

 manure half-rotted, at the rate of 25 loads to 

 the acre; product 80 bushels — cost $36 37 — 

 leaving $3 63. 



In the fifth experiment the corn was 

 planted in drills three feet apart, the corn 

 was dropped four inches apart — 25 loads of 

 half-rotted manure was applied after plough- 

 ing, as a top-dressing, to the acre, — cost, 

 $18 75; product, 55 bushels— $27 50 ; leav- 

 ing $8 75 for use of land. 



In the sixth experiment the corn was 

 planted in hills three feet by two, six ker- 

 nels in the hill, and 25 loads of manure ap- 

 plied to the acre. The cost was $15 56— 

 product 654" bushels — $32 75 — leaving for 

 use of land $17 10. In each of these expe- 

 riments plaster was used, which was not 

 taken into the account. 



In reply to a suggestion from Mr. Goodale, 

 Mr. Lawton proceeded to give an account of 

 his own manner of cultivating corn. He 

 ploughs his ground after getting on his ma- 

 nure, of which he intends to apply 20 loads 

 to the acre; and harrows the ground well 

 before furrowing. He then takes a sharp 

 plough and furrows down to the sheet sward, 

 and then with a dray two feet eight inches, 

 or three feet, marks the other way. He 

 puts from four to six kernels in the hill, and 

 a little plaster or ashes when the corn is 

 dropped — and plaster after the corn is up. 

 In cultivating he uses the cultivator and 

 makes no hill. 



Mr. Buckminster inquired as to what was 

 considered a fair day's work for a man at 

 harvesting. In reply, a gentleman — whose 

 name we could not learn — considered 30 

 bushels of corn a good day's work. 



Mr. Hubbard, of Sunderland, stated that 

 a man in his employ preferred to work at 

 75 cents a day at harvesting, than at three 

 and a half cents per bushel — thus showing 

 that 20 bushels for him, was rather more 

 than a day's work. Mr. II. repeated the in- 

 quiries he made at the last meeting in rela- 

 tion to the best mode of cultivating corn ; 

 the best mode of applying manures; and 

 whether it is best to make hills or leave the 

 surface smooth. 



Mr. Clary of Conway, thought corn should 

 be planted as early as the ground could be 

 prepared. In his vicinity it is the practice 

 to hill but very little. He thought there 

 was no more danger of the corn blowing 

 down than when hilled, and the growth of 

 the corn would be improved. In the appli- 

 cation of manure he considered it important 

 to cover up the manure and not leave it to 

 evaporate. He also thought it important to 

 understand the nature of the soil, and the 

 kind of manure applicable to particular kinds 

 of soil. Proper attention should also be paid 

 to keeping clear of weeds, in order that the 

 nutriment may go into the corn and not into 

 weeds. He always intended to have his 

 fields left nearly as level as they were when 

 he commenced on them. 



Mr. Clarke of Franklin, preferred in the 

 application of manure to spread it. He 

 hoes his corn three times, thinking that he 

 receives the benefit of the third hoeing in 

 the next year. He makes small hills, be- 

 lieving that the corn grows better. In cul- 

 tivating, the cultivator is preferied to the 

 plough. He was in favour of planting as 

 early as the 7th, 8th, or 9th of May, as the 

 corn grew m.ore stocky than when planted 

 later. He thought that farmers might raise 

 the Southern corn from fodder as profitably 

 considering the labour expended, as any other 

 crop. 



Mr. Wright of Easthampton, thought the 

 oftener corn was hoed the better; and that 

 in hoeing four or five times, the farmer 

 would receive sufficient to recompense him 

 for his additionable labor; he did not think it 

 beneficial to put manure in the hill — it would 

 produce as many suckers as genuine stalks. 

 The suckers should be removed when they 

 appeared, immediately. 



Mr. Parker thought rye would be a more 

 profitable crop, if as much attention was 

 paid to it, than corn — thought it was not so 

 useful. 



Hon. Mr. Calhoun referred to the difScul- 



