THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



117 



For the Southern Planter. 



Ivy Creek, March 20, 1855. 

 Dear Planter: — In answer to M. R. K. 

 Esq., of Frederick, I drop you a few lines on 

 the culture of corn, and hope he will do me 

 the favour to try my method on a few acres, 

 and state the comparative result. 



He plants four feet each way — cui bono ? 

 If the lands in Frederick cannot bring corn 

 with less distance, they are not so fertile as 

 they look. Let Mr. K. try four and a half 

 feet by two, drilled, two stalks in each hill, 

 where the land is good, and two and one alter- 

 nately when not so good. Run the rows on a 

 level, with a two horse shovel, a coulter at- 

 tached; cover with a new ground coulter; 

 work the crop with a side wiper, the best tool 

 I have seen for the purpose, and frequently 

 described in the Planter; (I sent C. T. Botts, 

 Esq., a drawing of it, but they made it at 

 right angles ; cannot you give us one in the 

 next number?) It finishes a row at two 

 strokes, and the best crops I have made were 

 worked but twice with the horse ; the hoe fol- 

 lowing with but little to do the second time. 



I am aware of the prejudice against hoeing 

 corn, yet feel sure it is of great utility. Mr. 

 K. can spare ploughmen to do the hoe work, 

 graze his horses, save grain, and make more 

 crop from less land. My horses are usually 

 fat, and eat but very little grain after our corn 

 is planted ; we turn them out at night, get up 

 at two or three in the morning, work them 

 until 12 o'clock, take up another set, and work 

 until near dusk ; the ploughmen usually give 

 a few ears of corn while they are eating dinner. 

 Two sidewipers, with four good horses, can 

 work with a fair season from 80 to 100 acres 

 of corn. We run twice over always ; some 

 seasons require thrice ; but generally the third 

 time we run but one stroke in each row. I 

 believe there is more corn lost, by too much 

 work, and a want of stalks on rich land, than 

 would build all our Rail Roads in 10 years. 

 Rich alluvial land in Virginia has rarely over 

 half the number of stalks it would bear to 

 advantage. Dr. Morton is the father of 

 this theory, it is said ; if so, honour to his name. 

 I have tried it closer and closer for many 

 years, and now believe that No. 1 flats, 

 well drained and ploughed, free from chinch 

 bug, can bring from 60 to 100 bushels of 

 corn any ordinary year. We plant from 3^ to 

 4 feet by from 15 to 18 inches, two stalks 

 to the hill; and on the best land thicker. I 

 wish Dr. Morton would come out, and write 

 thus to bring him. 



The old idea that corn would burn up from 

 thick planting, holds not on my flats. Mayo 



Cabell, Esq., made a great crop planted 2^ 

 feet by 6 inches; as well as I remember, it 

 was reported for the Southern Planter. 



With the best wishes for you, the Planter, 

 Mr. K. and the Farmers all over the world, 

 Your old friend, W. W. Gilmer. 



To F. G. Ruffin, Esq. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 ICE HOUSES AGAIN. 

 Mr. Editor : — Your printer made a mistake 

 in substituting "high roof" for hip roof, in 

 the printing of my last communication. The 

 hip roof, is a low roof, extending around the 

 house, so as to prevent the rains from soaking 

 into the house. 



Recurring to the subject of fixed air, or 

 carbonic acid gas, in ice houses, wells, &c. I 

 would add, that a pine bush answers best, for 

 being run up and down, wetted with lime 

 water, and that it may be well to throw in 

 quick lime to neutralize the gas. 



Frequently more ice is lost, by too often 

 going into the house, than would serve a 

 family. Every house-keeper who has an ice 

 house ought to have a large box or refrigerator. 

 The box answering just as well, if it be made 

 so that finely powdered charcoal, or some other 

 non-conductor, can intervene between the ice 

 and outside of the box. One may be thus 

 constructed upon a very cheap plan. Take 

 two boxes, one about two inches or more longer 

 than the other, then pour in the powdered 

 charcoal, 2 or 3 inches deep, in the larger box, 

 next put in the smaller one, and cram down 

 the powdered charcoal at the sides and ends ; a 

 strip will be necessary at the top to keep 

 the charcoal in place. The lid to the large 

 box should be fixed in such a manner as that 

 it can be filled with the charcoal, and it may 

 be well to bore a hole in the bottom, or in 

 one end or corner, with a tube to let on 7 

 the water from the melting ice. 



With such a fixture as this there can be no 

 need of going into the ice house more than 

 once or twice a day. T. H. A. 



HOW TO SHOE A KICKING HORSE. 

 Rein him up with the bearing rein or the bridle 

 rein drawn over the saddle; then take a forked 

 stick, each end of the fork to be fastened to the bit 

 and the other end secured at his breast or to 

 the girth, so that he cannot lower his head from 

 a high position. They say, he cannot kick then, 

 It is very easily tried and costs nothing. 



Rowe's Prize Crusher advertized in the Planter 

 of this issue, can be seen in operation at Mr. Lewis 

 Hill's Mill. 



