148 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



but to be kept free from weeds to insure a generous 

 return. 



It has been a disputed point whether topping the 

 corn or cutting it up by the roots is a better prac- 

 tice; but repeated and careful experiments have shown 

 that there is a loss by topping, to say nothing of the 

 annoyance caused in plowang under the stubble left. 

 Cut when the corn is glazed — and it may be cut in 

 the milk even, if early frosts threaten. When husked, 

 be particular not to put too many stallvs together, for 

 they retain moisture and dampness long after the tops 

 and* blades can be crumbled to dust in your hand. 



There is another use I would most strongly recom- 

 mend all to make trial of — it is not an experiment — 

 for all who have tried the same express themselves in 

 the highest terms of its value as a forage crop in time 

 of a ckouth. Generally in our climate the months of 

 August and September show bare pastures and fields. 

 An acre of corn sown in drills nine inches apart, and 

 cut when in tassel, will supply the need of many acres 

 of pasture at a time when pasture fails. Will not 

 some of my readers try the experiment of preparing 

 a piece of ground, sowing with corn for forage pur- 

 poses only, and soiling their cows and cattle during 

 the warm summer months, when flies and scant pas- 

 ture annoy and vex, and report the same for the benefit 

 of brother farmers ? Facts are wanted, and it is only 

 by analysis of facts and correct inferences deducted 

 therefrom, that agriculture can be made a science. 

 Yours, A. D. W. 



FARMING IN OREGON. 



Editor of the Gexesee Farmer — Sir : — If you 

 will give me space, I will try to show to your numerous 

 readers that an article in the October number of the 

 Farmer, over the signature of W. B. Daytox, Ore- 

 gon City, is prejudicial to the interests of Oregon. 

 In giving a short account of things in Oregon, he be- 

 gins by saying that what he writes will be plain mat- 

 ter of fact, that comes under his own observation. 

 Now, sir, it would seem to me that Mr. D. has not 

 only confined himself to his own observation, but that 

 his observation must have been confined to those 

 poor, brushy, ferny, rocky points about Oregon City. 



Mr. D. very justly says, that in describing the state 

 of things in Oregon all the drawbacks should be stated, 

 as well as what a crop could be sold for. According 

 to my opinion, Mr. D. has given the drawbacks, and 

 not what a crop could be sold for, or any of the ad- 

 vantages of Oregon. From his statement, a person 

 would infer that a poor man could not get along at 

 all in Oregon ; but if a man for common labor can 

 get from $400 to $600 a year, it will bring a team or 

 plow as " comeatable " in Oregon as in other parts of 

 the United States. A poor man has as many advan- 

 tages in Oregon as in any part of the world ; he can 

 get a good price for his labor, and all the produce 

 Uiat he raises he can sell for the highest prices ; and 

 as there are two crops of grass each year, stock does 

 well out on the commons all the year — so he has 

 nothing to feed out. 



As Mr. D. says, wheat is one of the best crops 

 that is raised in Oregon; but he says that on the best 

 lands there can only be raised twenty bushels of wheat 

 to the acre. In the summer of 1852, under very un- 



favorable circumstances, and on new land, I raised 

 thirty-four bushels of wheat to the acre. Last sum- 

 mer, on the same ground, from wheat sown in No- 

 \-ember, I got tliirtj^-two bushels to the acre. The 

 following letter, which I received a short time since, 

 will show that I am not the only successful farmer 

 here : 



HowEr.L Pkaikie, Marion Co., O. T., Dec. 10, 1853. 



Daniel CJ/Ark, Esq. — Sir: — Your note of the 5th nit. 

 is before me. I take great pleasure in answering your 

 questions in relation to the growth of wheat and potatoes. 



In the summer of 1852 I had 7i acres in wheat, which 

 yielded 375 bushels. About 4.3 acres of this ground was 

 summer fallowed — the balance was not. 



Now, in relation to the potatoes, I can not give yon a 

 precise statement of the amount I raised per acre. I 

 think, however, I raised at the rate of 400 bushels per acre 

 last season. I have just finished digging and putting up 

 my potatoes, and find the return far more than I expected 

 when I saw you at Salem. Yours, truly, 



Wesley Shannon. 



Now, sir, in order to show that it will pay to raise 

 both wheat and potatoes in Oregon, I will give the 

 prices for the last two years: In 18.52, wheat sold 

 at $2 @, $3 per bushel ; flour, as Mr. Dayton says, 

 at $9 @ $20 per cwt ; potatoes, at $2 @ $5 per 

 bushel. In 1853, wlieat sold at $2 @ $3 per bushel; 

 flour, at $7 @ $10 per cwt. ; potatoes, at $1 per 

 bushel. By this your readers will plainly see whether 

 it will pay to raise potatoes and wheat in this section 

 of the country or not. 



I am credibly informed that Mr. Shannox has never 

 put- one bit of manure on his ground, which is high 

 rolling prairie. I might cite many other similar crops, 

 but I think the above sufiicient. 



I remain, sir, truly yours, 



Mariox County, 0. T. Daniel Claek. 



POTATO-CULTURE — CHEAP TILE 



Mr. Editor: — Although so much has already been 

 said on potato-culture, 1 will, with your permission, 

 give the readers of the Farmer my plan. I prepare 

 the ground fine and mellow, make very light marks, 

 say 18 inches apart, drop in the potatoes, co^er with 

 about 3 inches of loose earth, and then cover the en- 

 tire gi'ouud with straw, about half rotten, to the 

 depth of 4 or 5 inches. They require no more care 

 until they are dug. I can raise more in a row, with 

 double the rows, than in any other way, and that 

 without tending. I have tried it two years. The 

 insect your correspondent in the March number cora- 

 plains of, does not like the looks of such a place. 

 My potatoes were all sound, while others by the side 

 of them, planted in the usual way, were destroyed 

 If your correspondent will try it, he will find there is 

 no " old woman's indigo test " about it. 



Tour correspondent, Mr. Dinsmore, of Ripley, 

 wishes to know how to procure cheap tile to make 

 under-drains of If he will in May or June cut do^vn 

 a Hickory tree, lay the bark off in strips of 12 inches 

 in width, expose it to the sun until it nearly closes 

 (which will be in about two days), and then put it 

 away until he wishes to use it, so tliat it will not close 

 up entirely, he will have tile that will not fill up with 

 crawfish or moles, and will last as long as any he caji 

 get, and be much cheaper. Yom'S, with respect, 



RiDGEviLLE, Warren Co., 0. Buokeye. 



