334 



NEW j::ngland farmer 



APRIL 20,|lti«». 



i.NI> HOBTICULTCRAI, REGISTF.R. 



BofTov, Weuhesdat, Afril 20, 1842. 



INDIAN CORN. 



h it a Profitublc Crop for Cultivittion ? 

 We often hear ilio opiiiiun expre^jicd, that Indinn rorn 

 will not pay tlie farmer for raising or growing in thiK vi- 

 linity. It it* said that when we can buy corn at 65 or 

 70 cent! per bushel, it is better iior us to^ibandon its cul- 

 tivalion. A few farmers in iho immediate vicinity of 

 our principal markets, may lind it good for them to a|i- 

 propriate their grounds to other crops. 15ut wo arc not 

 satisfied that the crop yields so small A return for the 

 labor and manure bestowed upon it, as the remarks of 

 many persons would indicate. It is often said ^liat po- 

 tatoes give a better return. 



Let us see how this mailer is. Of coursa we must 

 have reference in such cases to tliose stils which are 

 suited to either crop, and wo must also follow thi' lead- 

 ings of iiur own obsirvalinnx. Take for instance, an 

 acre of land of medium quality in its natural slate — let 

 it be land that was fi.irly manured and tilled when 

 last cultivateil, and that has been in grass four or five 

 years, and yielded last sc^ison one ton of hay. 



The labor of breaking up, harrowing and marking out, 

 will be the same for each — call the cost of it six dollars. 

 Let the manure m cither case be equal in worth or cost 

 to five curds of good stable manure; that is, let it equal 

 30 dollars when put out in the hill or spread on the sur- 

 face. For seed corn, we will ^llow (1-2 bushel) — cost 

 7.5 cents ;— for seed potatoes, (15 bushels, at 40 cle.) the 

 coat will be six dollars. 'J'o get th« potatoes to the field, 

 drop or plant them out, and cover tticm, nill require 

 nearly one day's work more than to di'op and cover the 

 corn. But we will call it only fifty cents moro cost. 

 The planting of the corn alter tlie m.inure is put out, 

 may be $1 50 ; the potatoes will require 2 dollars worth 

 of labor. The corn should be plowed and hoed three 

 timet, at a cost of dollars: the. potatoes twice, at a 

 cost of 4 dollars. If the stalks of the corn are topped, 

 bound up, cured and housed, the cost of this may be 

 3 dollars. At horvesling, a man may be supposed to 

 cut up, get in, and husk out IC bushels of ears per day, 

 or an acre that gives 40 bushels of shelled corn, in five 

 days — and this at a coat of 5 dollars. Wo will suppose 

 him to to dig and house 20 bushels of potatoes per doy, 

 and his aero giving 150 bushels, will lake 7 1-2 days' 

 work, or cost 7 1-2 dollars. The corn stover is worth as 

 much as one ton of good hay — say 15 dollars. Tho far- 

 mer's bushel of corn of his own raising, is worth to him 

 20 per cent, more than tho bushel of iSoulhern corn, 

 which is to be paid for in cash, carted hoiue from wharf 

 or store, and which is some 5 or G lbs. less ir| v.> ight. 

 We are not ready to admit that we can buy corij cheaper 

 than we can raise it, if our lands are 8 or 10 miles back 

 from the city. 



Now let us SCO how the account comas out : 



Cost of Corn Crop per Acrt. 

 Inlcresl on land, ftC 00 



Plowing and fixing the ground, C 00 



Seed, 75 



Manure, (when opplied) 30 QQ 



Planting, 1 50 



Hoeing, C qO 



Cutting and curing top etalk>, 3 00 



Harvesting, 5 00 



Ji6tj 25 



Ct. 



40 bush, corn, at $1 LO, $40 CO 



Stover, 15 00 



Improvement of hind by tillago, and unex- 

 pended manure equal to one third of the 

 manure, 10 00 



^JGo 00 



$61 50 



By 150 bushels, at 37 1 2 cts. 

 Improvement of land, 



$G6 25 



Profit, $4 75. 



In these supposed costs and worth of the crops, we 

 have kept near what we suppose to be usual results 

 with the mass of fanners upon pretty good soils. But 

 our own experience has been more in favor of the corn 

 than the above sujiposilion. Where we have tilled, iiO 

 bushels of corn ond 20 dollars worth of stover, have 

 been obtained at as little cost us J50 bushels of potatoes. 



Two important items arc mit often sufficiently re- 

 garded in relation to thise crops, viz: the cost of the 

 seed potiloes, and the worth of the corn stover. We 

 might add, also, the convenience of keeping the corn 

 when once housed, until there was leisiiru for getting it 

 to market, or until the slate of the market wus favorable. 

 We have allowed a high price for coin, and for potatoes 

 too, if taken at tho farmer's door ; but we have also al- 

 lowed a high price for labor. 



It is not our object to oppose the cultivation of the 

 potato, but merely to show that we do nut think corn an 

 unprofilnble crop — and also to lead our readers to look 

 with some care to the items of expense and profit in the 

 case of each of their important crops. 



We are very far from wishing to give general rule 

 to be followed by all. No such rule is wanted. A. can 

 do best with one crop, and B. ;«ith another:— wo aim 

 only at recommending to each of them to ascertain 

 which is best fur him. 



WUICII IS Tilt; BKST KIND OF CORN.' 



Who can answer such a question .' That some kinds 

 are more prolific than others, there con bo no doubt. 

 But that no person has ascertained that some one kind 

 is Buperiirr to nil others, we have as little doubt. 



The Brown corn has been much extolled for n low 

 years past, as combining in an uncommon degree, the 

 two desirable qualities of early maturity and great pro- 

 ductiveness. It doubtless deserves a high reputation 

 But we doubt whether it has any permanent and distinct 

 characteristics. The specimens which wo first saw, 

 were eight rowed and of cinnamon color; but we hove 

 since seen some twelve rowed and of a bright yellow 

 color. Many samples of it are a mixture ( f the two — 

 and are none the less valuable for being so. Wo liave 

 seen a crossed or mixed corn more productive than eith- 

 er of the three varieties out of which it wos formed; 

 and we are ready to ask whethir the crossing of corns 

 may not as well be recommended as Ih* crossing of 

 stock. 



Last season we recommended the Hartwullcorn. With 

 miiny farmers it did well — to others it was not satisfac 

 lory. It has a very small stalk, ripens early, is eight |^.'lt< 

 rowed, and has a large kernel. These particulars ara 

 oil desirable, if there can be added to them sufficient 

 length of cur. This corn is of about equal size with the ith 

 Brown, and of equal value probably. 



Our own judgment is in fuvor of corns, with larger p>>! 

 stalk and larger ear, even though late in ripening — ei- 

 pecially on warm soils. The chances for a larger crop 

 more than counterbalance tho risks from autumnal fiostt. 



The Red Blaze, the Parker, ond several others without 

 a name are more productive with us on warm lands well 

 manured, than the Brown and Ilartwell — but they ar«4|)l 

 later in ripening. 



John Prince, EBq.,of Roxbury, who has been an accu> 

 rate and useful observer of agricultural operations, 

 brought to our office Inst autumn, several ears, which 

 appear to be a liybrid of the Tuscatnra and the Chines* 

 Tree cor 1, which are very large, and which, if we cor« kt 

 reclly retain his statement, were much more prolific than. Iirli 

 either of the varieties out of which the cross was formed. |in 

 We would suggest the propriety of planting several va- 

 rieties, which ripen at about tho same time, together. 



Wo shall not answer our own question : we do not 

 know which is bcsl. If yours has t/on^weU in years past, 

 stick to it. We have tried many kinds, end not gaineil 

 much by it. 



THE SEASON— TREES, &c. 



Though the season wos unusually mild during much 

 of tho winter, and the buds on our foreat and fruit treei 

 began In swell unusually early in the spring, yet they, 

 will not open much earlier than usual. The aerure^ 

 frosts \\u have had since the buds started, do not seem 

 to hove done injury to any trees that have come within 

 our notice. The peach trees in and immediately around 

 the city, are now red with full and fair buds, which a 

 warm day or two will bring open. Trees generally 

 look well. Grass has survived the winter well, except- 

 ing thai which was sown last season ; this latter has in 

 many spots been thrown out and destroved by the many 

 freezings and thawingsof the winter. Winter grain that 

 was sowed eaily ond made a fair growiii in the autumn, 

 promises well, but that which was sowed Ills, e.s(ieeially 

 on poor lands, has been destroyed. Such ore the facts 

 witliiii the extent of our personal observations. 



The season now is wet ond rather cold. But there is 

 nothing unpromising in the general appearances of the 

 trees, tho grass, the giaing, or inthe state of thawcalber. 



RENOVATION OF EXHAUSTED SOILS. 

 We would ask the attention of all our readers *fho are 

 desirous to renovate light lands, to Mr Clark's communi- 

 cation, which fills ihc greater part of our paper. The 

 subjecl is there well treated. As Dr. Dana is frequently 

 referred to, possibly some may wonder that Air Clark 

 makes no reference to the Muck Manual. To prevent 

 any such wonder, we will state that the article n.iw 111- 

 serlud, has been on hand for several weeks, and was 

 writitn before the publication of Dr. Dana's book. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Saturday, .Ipiil 16, If?12. 

 The following communication was received from Win. 

 Kenrick, Esq : — 



To the Committee on Fruits : 



Gkntlemin — 1 send you a fruit — an Apple — believed 

 10 be a native, — called Masters' .Ipple — supposed 10 

 have originated on the farm of Mr Misters, Greenland, 

 N. 11. Bears constantly — keeps well. 



Respeclfuilv, your humble sorv't. 



Ni-wton, Ap 



lully, 



ril Iti 



Wm. Kenrick 



The above described fruit wos found nasi its prime, 

 but gave evidence of being a first rale opplc. Should be 

 obliged by receiving perfeat specimens another yonr. 

 For tho Committee, BENJ. V. FRENCH 



