168 



®l)c -farmer's IHotitljln iHstior. 



they have published in I'nil in their transactions 

 for 1849. 



After giving an interesting history of the plant, 

 Mr. Salisbury goes into an examination of the 

 ingredients which form it in the different stages 

 of its growth. We cannot now give a very par- 

 ticular detail of the examination, hut extract such 

 parts as may give a better insight into the coin- 



sition of this invaluable grain. 



pp 



We find in 

 the Genesee Farmer a condensed account of a 

 part of the analysis. 



At first, the plant contains a large proportion 

 of water, which makes up a large part of its 

 stem and leaves. When ten days above ground, 

 100 pans will give, if dried, 13 parts of ashes. 

 At 25 days from planting, the proportion of wa- 

 ter was somewhat less than 67 percent., and the 

 ash 30.7 per cent. Young corn stalks gave 94 

 parts of water in J00. The more rapidly any 

 plant grows, the more water it contains, and also 

 of alkaline and earthy salts. 



Mr. Salisbury found that some corn planted on 

 the 3d of June, gained most in the week preced- 

 ing the 16ih of August, when the ears were- 

 forming. The gain in weight in seven days was 

 2953 grains in a single plant: equal to 436 grains 

 a day, and eighteen and sixteen hundredths 

 srains per hour. 



At this period Mr. S. found that there was 

 91 per cent, of water in the stalk, 83 in the leaf; 

 89 in the sheath, and 64i in the tassel. When 

 drv, the stalk gave 10.7 per cent, of ash, the leal 

 11.16, and the husks 6 per cent. 



The writer in the Farmer here makes the fol- 

 lowing remarks, which accord well with our ex- 

 perience: "From observation and experience, 

 we have long been in favor of drying green corn, 

 rye and clover somewhat before feeding it out 

 to milch cows, horses or oxen. There is (as will 

 be seen above) an excess of water in such food 

 which should be evaporated by the skilful and 

 partial curing of the green forage. 



"The addition of a little salt will render it 

 more digestihle and nourishing to the system. 

 Corn is a valuable grass and hay plant in every 

 State in the Union. In this relation it has not 

 received that careful study and attention which 

 its importance demands." 



It is interesting to have the changes or varia- 

 tions of the different ingredients as the plant ap- 

 proaches maturity. It appears liy the calculation 

 of the writer above mentioned, that where you 

 allow three plants of the white flint variety so 

 called, to crow on a square yard, the crop will 

 carry off 382 pounds of mineral matters from 

 an acre of land, as follows : — 



Silica, (flint,) .158 pounds. 



Phosphates of iron and magnesia. . . .72 " 



Potash 48 



Soda 47 



Lime 12 " 



Magnesia 7 " 



Chlorine 15 " 



Sulphuric acid 23 " 



382 pounds. 



Mr. S. says the plant, during the period of tas- 

 seling, owing to the very large percentage of su- 

 gar and extract, with the respectable quantity of 

 albuminous matter and dextrine, which the 

 stalks, leaves anil sheath contain, must afford 

 very palatable as well as nutritious fodder. 



He also observes that the cob, when the kernel 

 is in the early stage of milk, is rich in albumen, 

 casein (which is cheesy matter) and dextrine, but 

 as the kernels grow and ripen, these matters de- 

 crease rapidly in the cob. 



This accords with some experience we have 

 had in feeding corn at this stage of its growth to 

 hogs and cows. If you give a hog the ears of 

 corn at this stage of its growth he will eat husks, 

 cobs and all. After a while, as the kernels fill 

 out, he will strip off" the husks, and eat oidy the 

 green ears ; and alter this, as the kernels become 

 harder, he will eat only the kernel, rejecting the 

 cob. Cows will increase in milk and make more 

 cheese, if the corn be given to them in this stage 

 of its growth : and we have often thought it 

 would be an interesting, if not a profitable ex- 

 periment, to gather corn at this period, and dry 

 it, for the purpose of feeding it out to cows from 

 which cheese was to be made, after the grass 

 and other crops had failed, by reason of frosts 

 in autumn. 



Enemies. — Have you enemies? Go straight 

 on and mind them not. If ihey block up your 

 path, walk round them, and do your duty regard- 

 less ol their spite. A man who has got no ene- 

 mies is seldom good for any thing — he is made 

 of that kind of material which is so easily work- 

 ed, that every one has his hand in it. A sterling 

 character, one who thinks for himself, and speaks 

 what he thinks, is always sure to have enemies. 

 They are necessary to him as fresh air: they 

 keep him alive and active. A celebrated charac- 

 ter, who was .surrounded by enemies used to re- 

 mark : " They are sparks which if you do not 

 blow, will go out of themselves." Let this be 

 your feeling, while endeavoring to live down the 

 scandal of those who are bitter against you. If 

 you stop to dispute, you do but as they desire, 

 ami open the way for mote abuse. Let the poor 

 fellows talk — there will be a re-action, if you 

 perform your duty, and hundreds who were once 

 alienated from you, will flock to you and ac- 

 knowledge their error. 



The Farmer's Song. 



The Plough, the Plough ! the ancient Plough 



Has torn the yielding sod — 

 Since first this world was given to man, 



A heritage from Cod. 



The Plough, the Plough ! the dashing Plough 



That elevates the loam ; 

 We follow free its breezes track 



Beneath the sky's blue dome. 



The Plough, the Plough ! the glorious Plough 



Extends her smiling reign, 

 Upon the flinty mountain's brow, 



And o'er the sunny plain. 



The Plough, the Plough ! the regal Plough 



Holds on its kingly sway. 

 Alike where royal turrets rise, 



Or humble hamlets lay. 



The Plough, the Plough ! the conquering Plough 



Unlike the conquering sword, 

 Has joyous life, and beaming wealth, 



On swarming millions poured. 



Oh, oh ! for help to drive the Plough, 



And break the flinty clod, 

 Wo longer starve in man's employ, 



Come, take our pay of God. 



The Earth, the Earth ! the teeming Earth ; 



God's store-house here for man. 

 We may go to God's own and draw 



Gifts from the generous hand. 



The Earth, the Earth ! the fair broad Earth, 



has locked wilhin her breast 

 Rich gifts for alt the sons of men, 



Awaiting their behest. 



Labor, the key, God gives to man, 

 To bring these treasures forth, 



We take God's key, and boldly come 

 To claim our charter's worth. 



A time for all things. 



Much is gained by improving the right time in 

 farming operations, and it requires no little con- 

 sideration to determine when is the very best 

 time to commence business. One farmer will 

 accomplish a third more than another by a care- 

 ful attention to the time when work should be 

 done. 



Labor on wet lands should he done when the 

 springs are low. High lands should he worked 

 before ihey become too dry. Gravelly land in 

 particular should be ploughed soon after the 

 frost is out in the spring. When labor is to be 

 done on the highway one yoke of oxen early in 

 spring is worth more than two yoke at another 

 time. 



On the other hand low and heavy ground 

 should never be ploughed when it is full of wa- 

 ter. Clay must he ploughed when it is neither 

 too wet nor too drv. When it is too wet the 



plough makjs it into mortar. When too dry the 

 plough cannot work its way. The owner of 

 such land must critically watch an opportunity 

 to plough if. 



Compost manure on grass land should always 

 be spread in the fall, for it cannot be done early 

 in the spring on account of the frost, arid if it is 

 done late it will be in the way of the scythe and 

 of the rake. And further, it will generally have 

 a much better effect when spread before winter. 

 Winter grain should always be sown early — it 

 not only takes better root and stands the winter 

 better, but it yields a rich supply of fall feed. 

 The soil too is improved more by early plough- 

 ing; and numerous worms are killed, while in 

 their insect state, by being buried tinder the fur- 

 row before they have laid their eggs. 



In regard to the harvesting of English grain 

 farmers should be more particular. A great ma- 

 jority cut it too late. They forget that the kernel 

 will fill up some after cutting, and that it often 

 shrinks by standing uncut, too long. Wheat 

 and rye are whiter and sweeter when cut as soon 

 as the berry is nearly full, but not hard ; and 

 oats are brighter and better when cut early; and 

 not half so liable are they to be struck with rust, 

 which hurts the grain, and ruins the straw for 

 fodder. 



It often happens that the frost holds off till late 

 in November. This gives an opportunity to pre- 

 pare grounds for the next season; and this is 

 important to him who has much to do ; for the 

 earlier he sows his spring grain, on ground that 

 is dry enough for the seed, the better will it be. 

 Corn hills therefore ought to be split open in the 

 fall and harrowed to pieces; then one ploughing 

 in the spring may answer. Some farmers 

 plough it well in the fill, and sow their grain in 

 the spring on the furrows — doing nothing in the 

 spring but to pass the harrow over it. By such 

 practices all the grain may he sown early in the 

 spring, and stand a better chance to fill out be- 

 fore the sultry weather comes. 



Ditches to meadows are dug easiest in a dry 

 time ; but rocks on dry land are dug easiest when 

 the soil is wet. Grain should be threshed in 

 clear dry weather; hut seeds should he sown 

 when the air is wet. Grass should never be cut 

 soon after a washing rain, though the scythe may 

 go easier when there is no gum to be caught on 

 the edge. 



Wood should be put under cover in dry weath- 

 er ; and if it is green and just from the wood 

 lot, it has more virtue in it than wood that is 

 dried in the open air; though it may not be 

 kindled quite so quick. 



Rocks that are to he hauled to a distance 

 should be put in piles before winter, and lie 

 there till the warm sun of February has thawed 

 the snow from the heaps. Then they are hauled 

 without mittens, and the team will draw on the 

 snow four times as many as on bare ground. 

 There is generally a right time to do this work, 

 and the sagacious farmer will find it. — Ploughman. 



Five miles of loadeh Wagons. — The new 

 city of Milwaukee, wherein dwelt, in 1835, hut a 

 single white man, there was recently received, in 

 one day, 21,000 bushels of wheat — allowing 40 

 bushels to each wagon, 525 wagons were requir- 

 ed to bring this quantity. There were, also, the 

 same day, 175 teams loaded with other produce ; 

 and allowing 45 feet for each team, we have five 

 mites of loaded wagons, coming into the city in 

 one day — a beautiful illustration of the progress 

 of American industrial civilization. 



He who hopes for glory from new discoveries, 

 must not be ignorant of old ones. 



