64 



.^ I L K MANUAL. 



ISfDlAN COKN. 



There is another question of interest to farmers, 

 which relates to the mode of harvesting the crop, 

 that is, wliether it is hest to top the stalks, cut the 

 whole at the ground when the grain is glazed, or 

 cut the whole when the grain is fully lipened. We 

 have stated the experiments of iAIr Clark of North- 

 ampton, one of the best practical farmers of our 

 country, and of other gentlemen showing that the 

 grain suffers a diminution of six or eight bushels 

 the acre, by top|iing the stalks ; and there seems 

 to be no counterbalancing benefit in the fodder, 

 unless at the expense of carrying the stalks to the 

 borders of tlie field, that they may be secured be- 

 f )re the crop is gathered, and before they become 

 blanched and half ruined. And it is no protec- 

 tion against early autumnal frosts, but lather ex- 

 poses unripened grain to be more injured. Hence, 

 so far as regards these tw<» modes, all who have 

 n)ade a comparison, seem to concur in the o[)in- 

 ion, that stri|jping the corn of its tops and leaves 

 is a bad practice. William Carmicliael, of Vir- 

 ginia, has given us in the Farmer's' Register, his 

 experiments in this matter, which gd to corrobo- 

 rate the conclusion we have drawn. He took, 

 promiscuously, 100 ears from corn that had been 

 topped, and 100 ears from that which had not betn 

 topjjed, growing side by side. The first weighed 

 on the cob, 50 lbs. — shelled, 41 ll)s., and measur- 

 ed 21 qts. 1 pt. The other 54 lbs.— shelled, 46 

 lbs., and measured 26 qts. — showing a difterence 

 of nearly one-fifth in favor of unstripperi or nn- 

 topped corn. — The fact is, that topping not only 

 prevents tlio further elalioration of the sap, which 

 can only take place in the leaves, nnd which is ne- 

 cessary for the growth of t/.e corn, !«ut it deprives 

 tlie grain of much that is already elaborated', and 

 on its way to the grain. If a fruit tree is d"priv. 

 ed of its leaves, !)efore the ftuit has attained its 

 growth, or mature flavor, for its supply of elabo- 

 rate food, or vegetable blood is cut ofl:' by the loss 

 (jf leaves. We have noticed this particularly in 

 the plum. 



Satisfactory experiments have not been made to 

 determ tie whether it is most advantageous to cut 

 the crop when the grain is merely glazed, or to 

 wait till it is perfectly ripe. This will depend 

 upon the amount of loss, if any, in the grain by 

 early harvesting, — the relative value of the grain 

 and fodder, and the prospects of both being injur- 

 ed I)y early frosts — for neither are liable to suf- 

 fer from frost after the crop has been cut and put 

 into shooks. It is to be noticed that i»; early 

 ting, the sta'ks are succulent, and abound in elab- 

 orate sap, on its descent from the leaves to the 

 gra.n and that this su{)ply of food to the grain 

 continues to flow |)robably for some days after 

 the corn is in the shook, and if so the grain itself 

 cnntinut'S to iin[>rove, though we. thiuk it likely 



» lat the crop undergoes some trifling diminution. 

 But if frost is likely to intervene before the com- 

 plete maturity of the crop, there is no doubt but 

 the c( rn will sufferless in shook than it will stand- 

 ing, v.'hile the fodder will be materially ujured by 

 frost. Admitting that there is a smaJl loss in grain 

 by early cutting, though it is ucdoubtedly less 

 than when it is top[)ed, the difference in the value 

 of the fodder, under the two modes of manage- 

 ment, is vastly in favor of early harvesting. We 

 do not pretend to calculate to a nicety the differ- 

 ence in nutritious properties, of cornstalks cut in 

 a succulent staie, early in September, well cured, 

 and well housed, and those left standing till Octo- 

 ber or November in the field, but we should think 

 it fifty |)er cent. Well cured cornstalks afford an 

 excellent winter food for neat cattle; and when 

 fodder is likely to be in demand, they may be 

 made to contribute largely to tho profits of the 

 farm. — Several of our acquaintance have kept 

 their neat stock almost entirely upon this fodder 

 during the past winter, and we have done the like, 

 having first cut ours in a cutting machine ; and 

 so far as we can learn, the cattle kept upon them 

 are in excellent condition. — Cultivator. 



Chickens. — A disease called the gapes, so de- 

 structive among chickens, may be prevented, and 

 if not too far advanced, cured by a slight mixture 

 of assafoetida in their food. Four ounces costing 

 six and a quarter cents per ounce, dissolved in 

 water and mixed once a day in food, is enough 

 for four liundred chickens. If people have no 

 sympathy for the sufferings of those beautiful lit- 

 tle birds, they can't fail to have some for them- 

 selves, if beacon gets much higher. 



RossiE Lead Mines. — The Ogdensburg Times 

 remarks in relation to this newly discovered mine, 

 that the vein, which had been but partially open- 

 ed, increases largely in width as well as in puri- 

 ty, the farther it goes down. There is every rea- 

 son to suppose that it is absslutely inexhaustible. 

 '1 he si)ecimen8 of the latest excavations, it is said, 

 will yield ninety per cent. — A'. Y Com. Adv. 



The Treasury Building and Patent Oefice. 

 — An act was passed at the recent session of the 

 N. Legislature providing for tlie buildings for the 

 accommodation of the Treasury Department and 

 Patent Office. " l?oi!i the-e buildings," says the 

 Globe, " have been commenced with great spirit, 

 and the progress already made upon them reflects 

 great credit u|)on those under whose general di- 

 rection they have been placed by the President, as 

 well as upon the several individuals employed to 

 carry into execution the plans which were so 

 [i!i;inptly and energetically adopted. 



