CORN, INDIAN. 



Ihis crop receives the manure, twen- 

 ty-five or thirty ordinary loads may 

 he applied to one acre with greater 

 profit than to two or three acres. Ev- 

 ery addition tells in the product ; and 

 there is scarcely any danger of ma- 

 nuring too high for this favourite crop. 

 Gypsum is applied broad-cast before 

 the last ploughing or harrowing, or 

 strewed on the hills after hoeing. I 

 pursued the first method, at the rate 

 of a bushel to the acre. 



" The best ■preparation for a corn crop 

 is a clover or other grass lay, or lea, 

 well covered with long manure, re- 

 cently spread, neatly ploughed, and 

 harrowed lengthwise of the furrow. 

 A roller may precede the harrow with 

 advantage. The time of performing 

 these operations depends upon the 

 texture of the soil and the quality of 

 the sod. If the first is inclining to 

 clay, or the latter tough or of long 

 continuance, the ploughing may be 

 performed the preceding autumn ; 

 but where sand or gravel greatly pre- 

 ponderate, or the sod is light and ten- 

 der, it is best performed in the spring, 

 and as near to the planting as conve- 

 nient. The harrow, at least, should 

 immediately precede planting. All 

 seeds do best when put into the fresh- 

 stirred mould. Stiff lands are me- 

 liorated and broken down by fall 

 ploughing, but light lands are rather 

 prejudiced by it. When corn is pre- 

 ceded by a tilled crop, the ground 

 should be furrowed, and the seed de- 

 posited in the bottoms of the furrows. 

 Where there is a sod, the rows should 

 be superficially marked, and the seed 

 planted upon the surface. Where the 

 field is flat, or the subsoil retentive 

 of moisture, the land should be laid in 

 ridges, that the excess of water which 

 falls may pass off in the furrows. 



" The time of planting must vary in 

 different districts and in different sea- 

 sons. The ground should be suffi- 

 ciently warmed by vernal heat to 

 cause a speedy germination. Natu- 

 ral vegetation affords the best guide. 

 My rule has been to plant when the 

 apple is bursting its blossom buds, 

 which has generally been between 

 the 12th and' 20th of Mav. 



" Preparation of the Seed. — The en- 

 emies to be combated are the wire- 

 worm, brown grub, birds, and s(iuir- 

 rels. Of these, the first and last two 

 prey upon the kernels, and against 

 these tar offers a complete protection. 

 I soak my seed twelve hours in hot 

 water, in which is dissolved a few 

 ounces of crude saltpetre. When the 

 corn has been thus soaked, I take for 

 each half bushel of seed half a pint of 

 tar, put it into an iron vessel with 

 water, and heat it till the tar is dis- 

 solved, when it is turned upon the 

 seed in steep. The mass is well stir- 

 red, the corn taken out, and as much 

 plaster added as will adhere to the 

 grain. This impregnates and partial- 

 ly coats the seed with the tar. The 

 experience of years will warrant me 

 in confidently recommending this as 

 a protection for the seed. 



"The manner nf planting is ordinari- 

 ly in hills, from two and a half to six 

 feet apart, according to the variety 

 of corn, the strength of the soil, and 

 the fancy of the cultivator. The usu- 

 al distance in my neighbourhood is 

 three feet. Some, however, plant in 

 drills of one, two, and three rows, 

 by which a greater crop is unques- 

 tionably obtained, though the expense 

 of culture is somewhat increased. 



" The quantity of seed s\\m\\(\ be dou- 

 ble, and may be quadruple of what is 

 required to stand. It is well known 

 that a great difference is manifest in 

 the appearance of the plants. Some 

 appear feeble and sickly, which the 

 best nursing will not render produc- 

 tive. The expense of seed and the la- 

 bour of pulling up all but three or four 

 of the strongest plants in a hill, it is 

 beheved, will be amply remunerated 

 by the increased product. If the seed 

 is covered, as it should be, with fine 

 mould only, and not too deep, we may 

 at least calculate upon every hill or 

 drill having its requisite number of 

 plants. 



" The after culture consists in keep- 

 ing the soil loose and free from weeds, 

 which is ordinarily accomplished by 

 two dressings, and in thinning the 

 plants, which latter may be done the 

 first hoeing, or partially omitted till 



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