INDIAN CORN. 197 



vigorous operation, at the period when the plant requires the 

 most nourishment. The preparation of the soil for a corn crop 

 should be regulated in reference to preceding crops ; where 

 the small grains have been raised, stubble land should be 

 ploughed several times before planting ; previous to the last 

 ploughing, a good dressing of barn manure, not less than eight 

 cords to the acre, should be evenly spread, and turned under 

 with a shoal furrow; if fine compost manure is used, tlien the 

 cultivator, or harrow, will place it deep enough in the soil. No 

 manvire need ever be placed directly under the corn, excepting 

 when farmers are induced to plant fields where the soil is not 

 well adapted to the growth of corn. In very warm, and rather 

 dry seasons, corn will grow well, and yield abundantly, on cold 

 peaty, or clayey soils, if a shovelful of good compost manure 

 be placed in each hill. 



But the seasons are so variable it is not prudent often to try 

 experiments of this kind. When fields are to be planted with 

 corn which have been in sward for a succession of years, and 

 liberally top-dressed with good manure, it is well to plough in 

 the fall, six or seven inches deep, according the character of 

 the subsoil ; in the spring cross-plough once or twice, without 

 disturbing the sod ; pulverize thoroughly with cultivator, and 

 harrow, and then plant without the application of any manure. 

 Sometimes, with this preparation, we can obtain better crops 

 than we can when the manure is applied in the year of planting. 

 In a soil made rich in previous years, the corn will take a 

 natural and regular growth ; in the fermentation of recently 

 applied manure it will be forced forward too fast, in the early 

 part of the season, and not find sufficient food at the critical 

 period when the ears are formed. To raise corn, successfully 

 our land must be made rich, either at the time of planting, or 

 in previous years. The time has passed, in this region, when 

 the strength of our soils can reasonably be depeiffled on to 

 produce remunerating crops of corn. We must avail ourselves 

 of art, and, with the judicious employment of this, we can 

 produce far more corn on the acre, than is ever raised in any of 

 the virgin soils of the Western States. 



The last operation, in the preparation of a field for planting, 

 is furrowing. This is rather a difficult part of the business, if 

 we are anxious that the eye should be gratified in viewing 



