PLANTING. 85 



good fortune since, to get a little more insight into the theory, and 

 to receive more satisfactory explanations of what was before, a 

 mystery to us. Although many things are yet behind the veil, 

 many, whicli have baffled the skill of Philosophy and Science, 

 yet what is known, is sullicient to reward every inquiring mit)d for 

 the research, and to change the practical labor and fatigue of farm- 

 ing, into a rational and delightful employment. We will now pro- 

 ceed to our Planting, and tirst of Indian Corn. We would recom- 

 mend to put this in as early as possible, after the eaith is in a suit- 

 able situation to receive it, or as soon as there is no danger of the 

 frosts killing the roots. It will bear more cold jicrhaps than most 

 people think it will. Heai' wliat John Lorain saith : 



" It should, however, be remembered, (hat wliere the seasons are 

 short, [jlantiiig and sowing as early as Iro^^t will pernnt, is of the 

 utmost coiise juence. Fhe contrary practi<e has completely ex- 

 cluded nsany valuable plants which would have produced abuiidant- 

 ly, if farmers had not considered it necessary to postpone planting 

 and sowing, until the grounds were, agreeably to their opinions, 

 sufficiently warm. This is a fata! error, es[)eciaily as the ground 

 is fretpientiy warmer, and the soil better calculated to promv)te 

 ve'^etation, in the more early part of spring, than it is at ili£ remote 

 periods they tix on for plaiiting and sowing. After the plasits have 

 taken root, maisy kinds which are now considered very tender, are 

 nothing like so susceptible of serious injury from frost as farmers 

 and gardeners too generally suppose. It they should happen to be 

 destroyed, they may often be resown or replanted, in time to stand 

 on an equal tooting with those j)!anted or sown at the usual time. 

 But this labor and expense may be generally avoided, by observing 

 what degree of frost the plasits will bear without material injury, 

 and the time in the spring, when, in the common course of events, 

 such frosts are not to be expected. 



It is thought that the spring opens ten or fifteen days later here, 

 than in the vicinity of Philaueiphia, where 1 resided several years 

 previously to my removal to this place early in June, 1812. Stiil 

 I plant corn here, much earlier than it is planted there, to wit, 

 from the 23d of April to the 1st of May, as the season may hapnen 

 to suit. From the 10th to the 15th of l^lay, was the common time 

 of planting in the neighborhood from which I removed, but some 

 planted much later even than this, as it too often happened that 

 cold rains or other causes, determined them to wait until the 

 ground was warmed. 



When I planted my corn on the 1st day of May, 1814, a f< w 

 clusters had been planted by a neighbor in his 4';arden, on the 9th 

 of April. These plants wc\e in general cut offtvro or three times 

 by fi'ost, yet they maintained a superiority over (he corn planted 

 hy me on the 1st of May, until the gi-owth of the peas and beans 

 planted quite too close to the maize, greatly injured it. As there 



