CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



to the same crop. That is, in preparing for a crop of corn, I 

 should put on about twenty-five ox-cart loads of barn-yard 

 manure to the acre, spread it evenly, and plough late in the 

 fall, harrowing it well before winter sets in. 



"In the spring I spread on sixty bushels of lime to the acre, 

 again harrowing until the ground is in good order for plant- 

 ing." It is then struck out lightly, in which operation, as well 

 as in the after culture, the greatest care is taken not to disturb 

 either the sward or the manure. 



By this process the land is left in good order for the follow- 

 ing crop; and we learn from Mr. TATNALL, that he has raised 

 from sixty to seventy bushels of corn per acre the first year, 

 and from twenty-five to thirty bushels of wheat following the 

 corn crop; and that, too, from land that would not previously 

 produce oats worth cutting. Several farmers of our acquaint- 

 ance have adopted Mr. TVs plan, successfully, so far as the 

 corn is concerned and no doubt is entertained of the value of 

 subsequent crops. 



Selection of seed. The Dutton corn, so called, is the 

 earliest for field culture that we are acquainted with, and most 

 suitable for the middle states. It may be planted in this lati- 

 tude, 42, the latter part of May, and even as late as the first of 

 June, and cut off the first week in September fully ripe. It is 

 a hard corn, deeply yellow, grains set very close, generally 

 twelve rows, sometimes more, but never eight. It is remark- 

 ably heavy, and is considered more sweet and nutritious than 

 the ordinary kinds of corn usually raised in this country. 

 The stalk is small, it shades the ground less than other kinds, 

 and of course admits of being planted much nearer together. 

 Many of our farmers, however, still prefer the old varieties of 

 gourd seed. 



The Canada or Northern corn is cultivated extensively in 

 some parts; while in the southern and south-western states the 

 Baden corn is in high repute, and has taken the precedence of 

 almost every other kind. It is very prolific, stalk large and 

 vigorous, and requiring a long season to come to maturity. It 

 appears to be peculiarly adapted to the south; and although it 

 has been raised in the middle and northern states, and in many 

 localities would be highly desirable on account of its great 

 yield, and the vast amount of fodder it affords, yet our liability 

 to early and severe frosts forbid its general cultivation. 



Preparation of the seed. The following is Judge BUEL'S practice in prepar- 

 ing the seed for planting: "We turn upon the seed, the evening before planting, 

 water nearly in a boiling state. This thoroughly saturates the seed, induces 

 an incipient germination, and causes the corn to sprout quick. The next 

 morning we take half a pint of tar, for half a bushel of seed, put it into an iron 

 vessel with water, and heat it until the tar is dissolved and the liquid becomes 



