ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AXD FARMING. 379 



Last October, ten rods were measured out in two different 

 places, in a corn-field, on grass land — the one yielding ten, 

 the other nine, bushels of ears. In one corn-field, after 

 the last dressing in July, timothy and clover-seed were 

 sown, and in the fall the grass appeared to have taken as 

 well as it has done in adjoining fields where it had been 

 sown with oats." 



Upon which Judge Buel again remarks : " All, or nearly 

 all, the accounts we have published of great products of 

 Indian corn, agree in two particulars, viz. in not using 

 the plow in the culture, and in not earthing, or but very 

 slightly, the hills. These results go to demonstrate, that 

 the entire roots are essential to the vigor of the crops, and 

 to enable them to perform their functions as nature designed, 

 must be near the surface. If the roots are severed with 

 the plow, in dressing the crop, the plants are deprived of a 

 portion of their nourishment ; and if they are buried deep 

 by hilling, the plant is partially exhausted in throwing out 

 a new set near the surface, where alone they can perfoi-m all 

 their offices. There is another material advantage in this 

 mode of cultivating the com crop — it saves a vast deal of 

 manual labor." 



The preceding considerations justify us in recommending, 

 that in the management of the Indian corn crop, the fol- 

 lowing rules be observed, or at least partially, so far as to 

 test their correctness. 



1. That the corn harrow and cultivator be substituted 

 for the plow in the culture of the crop. 



2. That the plants be not hilled, or but slightly so— this 

 not to prevent the soil being often stirred and kept clean, and, 



3. That in harvesting, the crop be cut at the ground as 

 soon as the gi'ain is glazed. 



Again, in reference to the system of level cultivation of 

 corn, Judge Buel remarks : 



" The experience of the last two years has been sufficient 

 to admonish us, that without due precaution, our crops of 



