H2 CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



tar water. It is then turned upon the seed and well stirred. It adheres to the 

 grain and gives it a thin transparent coating. 



The tar serves a double purpose it prevents an excess of moisture entering 

 and rotting the seed if the weather or soil are cold or wet; and it preserves it 

 from the depredations of birds, (and some insects,) &c., which prey upon it. 

 After the seed is taken from the steep, where we never leave it more than fif- 

 teen hours, as much ground gypsum is mixed with it as will adhere to the 

 kernels. The gypsum prevents the kernels adhering to each other, and 

 favours the after growth of the crop." Ashes or lime may be substituted for 

 gypsum. The seed should be planted while it is moist, and immediately 

 covered. It should not be lon?f exposed to the sun. 



Distance in planting. The varieties of seed and the rich- 

 ness of the soil must determine the distance at which the corn 

 should be planted. If the distances are too great, there is a 

 needless waste in the use of land; if too small, the corn will be 

 choked and rendered less productive. When it is considered 

 that good varieties and proper distances are attended with no 

 additional expense or labour, its importance must be manifest. 

 The northern varieties of corn are much better adapted to the 

 culture of the middle states than the southern varieties already 

 referred to, though the latter are very productive. 



The Dutton, and other northern varieties, being much 

 smaller in the stalk, require less room than the southern, and, 

 consequently, a much larger number of hills or rows may be 

 planted on an acre; and in the same proportion is the crop in- 

 creased. The most approved method now adopted of planting 

 corn, is in rows or drills, generally running north and south; 

 the respective distances between the drills, and the seeds de- 

 posited in the drills, must vary according to circumstances. 



It has been stated, and that correctly, that nearly all the 

 large premium crops of corn, which have been noted in the 

 annals of agriculture, were procured by planting the corn in 

 drills, either single, double, or treble. A difference, however, 

 exists relative to planting it in ridges, or on a flat surface; this 

 must, in a great measure, depend upon the nature of the soil; 

 as a loamy soil, or one suitable for corn, ought in this climate 

 to be cultivated in a flat way, in order that it may the better 

 retain moisture.* 



Quantity of seed and covering. "From using too little seed, 

 and a recklessness in covering it, many corn fields are deficient 

 one half of what ought to grow upon them." From six to eight 

 kernels are to be dropped in a hill, and very carefully covered 

 with finely pulverized mould. If any hard clod or substance 

 is placed on the hill, the plants will probably be retarded in 

 their growth. Care must be taken that the seed be not buried 

 too deep, as it may not germinate if too shallow, it may suffer 

 for the lack of moisture. The extra expense for additional seed 



* Complete Farmer, p. 34. 



