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INDIAN CORN. 



profitably employed in the growth of corn without thorough drainage; 

 for until surplus water ceases to occupy the spaces between the par- 

 ticles of earth, atmospheric air cannot enter. Nor can the pulverulent 

 condition of the soil result from this disturbance by the plough 

 during the growth of this crop, if partially immersed in water, for 

 the surplus water, acting as a lubricator to the particles, causes them 

 to settle in so compact a form that the com roots cannot travel freely 

 in search of their proper aliment. The different modes of culture 

 adopted should always embrace such manipulations as will give the 

 greatest amount of disturbance to the soil with the least amount of 

 abrasion to the roots of corn, hence the original preparation of the 

 soil before planting should be such as to secure the most mellow con- 

 dition, and to the greatest depth. This will be perfect security 

 against drought ; for wherever air can circulate among particles of 

 soil colder than itself it will deposit moisture ; therefore, com grown 

 on subsoiled land free from excess of water never suffers from 

 drought. The after cultivation during the growth of the crop should 

 be such as to render the surface at all times penetrable to the atmo- 

 sphere and free from parasitic growth. 



Planting Corn. — The seed may be prepared by any of the usual 

 steeps which are known to protect from the ravages of insects, &c., 

 during its early growth, and to stimulate its early germination until 

 ready to throw forth its roots. Among these may be named dilute 

 sulphate of ammonia, saltpetre very dilute, cubical nitre, &c. 



Preparation of the Soil. — After thorough preparation of the soil by 

 deep and subsoil ploughing, and the addition of such amendments as 

 analysis may prove to be necessary, the corn should be planted at 

 slight depths in hills 4 feet apart in every direction, which will admit 

 of more thorough cultivation in both directions than if planted in 

 rows. I cannot but suggest that in the final preparation of the soil 

 before planting, it would be well to run the subsoil plough at a full 

 depth in striking out the rows ; this having been done in both direc- 

 tions will leave the intersections visible for the planting of the corn. 

 From the peculiarity of this plough the soil will be left in a much 

 more divided condition than if turned over by the surface plough alone. 

 In these intersections the corn may be planted. When 3 inches high 

 the lifting subsoil plough, which will affect the soil at the surface 

 for 2 feet each side of this line of travel, should be run in one direc- 

 tion, half-way between the rows of hills, thus disintegrating the soil 

 in the centre to full depth, disturbing it at the surface to the very plants, 

 gradually lessening as it approaches them, so that none of the young 

 roots are abraded by its action. It will now be seen that immediately 

 under the corn is a deep disintegration, readily accessible to the roots, 

 while the space between the hills is thoroughly pulverized and deep- 

 ened as it recedes from the hills, so that the roots will not be inclined 

 to travel surface ways. At the proper time for a second ploughing the 

 lifting subsoil plough may be run in the opposing direction half-way 

 between the rows, thus rendering the soil pulverulent to a great 

 depth at a later stage of the growth. The after cultivation may be 

 conducted by the universal cultivator, set the whole width of 4 feet, or 

 so near it as not to disturb the plants, and to such depth as will keep 



