380 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



Indian corn will not pay for the labor bestowed on the cul- 

 ture ; and yet, that where due attention has been paid to 

 soil, manure, st-ol and harvesting, the return has been 

 bountiful, notwithstanding bad seasons. Having been uni- 

 formly successful in the culture of this crop, we feel 

 justified in repeating some leading directions for its manage- 

 ment." 



" AFTER-CULTURE. In this the plow should not be used 

 if the corn harrow and cultivator can be had, and if used, 

 should not be suffered to penetrate the soil more than two 

 or three inches. The plow tears the roots, turns up and 

 wastes the manure, and increases the injuries of drought. 

 The main object is to extirpate weeds, and to keep the 

 surface mellow and open, that the heat, air and moisture 

 may exert better their kind influences upon the vegetable 

 matter in the soil, in converting it into nutriment for the 

 crop. At the first dressing, with the hand-hoe, the plants 

 are reduced to four, or three, in a hill, the surface is broken 

 among the plants, the weeds carefully extirpated, and a lit- 

 tle fresh mold gathered to the hill. At the second dressing, 

 a like process is observed, taking care that the earthing 

 shall not exceed one inch and a halfj that the hill be broad 

 and flat, and that the earth for this purpose be not taken 

 from one place, but gathered from the surface between the 

 rows, where it has been loosened by the cultivator." 



MB* MILLER'S METHOD. 



" GEORGETOWN x ROADS, Kent Co^ Md. 



" I have just finished measuring the corn that grew this 

 year on a lot of mine of five and a half acres, and have 

 measured 105i barrels and one bushel of ears, making 103 

 bushels of corn per acre. The following is the manner in 

 which I prepared the ground, etc. The soil is a stiff clay : 

 and one and a half acres of said lot was in clover last y'ur, 



