THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



87 



it may be opportune to throw out a few brief 

 hints, not as to the best mode, — for every grower 

 of this nutritious grain is, already, in possession 

 of the best method of culture — but as mere sug- 

 gestions as to what we consider a good plan to 

 ensure a remunerating crop. To begin then at 

 the beginning — he who expects to make his 

 acres tell a tale of production that he need not 

 be ashamed of, must lay himself out, in the 

 first place, to put his ground in good condition, 

 and this can only be effected by deep ploughing, 

 and such pulverization, by harrowing and cross 

 harrowing, as will make the tilth as fine as Ole 

 Bull's fiddle. To expect the corn plant to grow 

 and mature its fruit luxuriantly in a cloddy and 

 half prepared soil, is just as unreasonable as 

 would be the attempt to get up steam without 

 fire. In the second place, unless his land be in a 

 very high state of fertility, he must make ar- 

 rangements to manure his corn ground with a 

 liberal — nay, with a prodigal hand — for, of a 

 truth, the corn plant is a most voracious feeder, 

 and delights, like many a gormand, to luxuriate 

 amidst gross viands of various compounds. In 

 the third place, if he desires to assume the best 

 chance of success, and ensure against the acci- 

 dents of "flood and field," he should plant early. 

 In the fourth place, he should be assiduous in 

 working his crop from its first coming up, until 

 he lays it by, in order that, in the race for the 

 mastery, the weeds may always be kept down, 

 and never for a day be permitted to rob the corn 

 plants of any portion of the food which may be 

 buried in earth, or floating in air. In a word, 

 the earth should at all times be kept clean of 

 weeds, and open to the influence of sun, air, dew 

 and rain, agencies as essential to their growth 

 as the best and most enriching manures. 



We have' recommended deep ploughing in 

 the preparation of the soil for the reception of 

 the seed, but far, very far, would we be from re- 

 commending deep ploughing after the plants ar^ 

 rive at any considerable height. Indeed, after 

 the first working, we would abandon the plough 

 altogether, and rely upon the cultivator, to be 

 followed by careful hoemen to eradicate such 

 weeds as may not be reached by the former im- 

 plement ; for notwithstanding many intelligent 

 writers, as well as practical planters, contend 

 that the cutting of the roots by the plough is be- 

 neficial, we Cannot reconcile the practice to our 

 notions and common sense view of things. — 

 Nature intended the roots as the mediums of 

 feeding, and every act of violence, — every sepa- 

 ration — to which they may be subjected, must 

 (necessarily tend to retard their growth, because 

 'such treatment arrests that continuous absorp- 

 tion and elaboration of that portion of their food 

 which is derived from the earth. 

 | With regard to very large crops of corn we 

 have a remark or two to make. It must be ob- 

 vious, that, without close planting, no matter 



what the quality of the soil may be — no matter 

 how notably the culture may be pursued — un- 

 less a sufficient number of stalks be grown upon 

 an acre, the yield will always be more or less 

 circumscribed, as without the stalks be on the 

 earth they cannot produce ears of corn. 



It should be an object with every corn grower 

 to provide his corn ground with lime, plaster and 

 ashes, as well as the nutritive manures, for un- 

 less there be potash in the soil to dissolve the 

 sand, and form what is called the silicate of 

 potash, the substance Which comprises the outer 

 crust of the cornstalk — vegetation cannot go on 

 with that economy which leads to the fructifi- 

 cation of the grain, as the stalks are mainly 

 constituted of sand, reduced by the action of 

 potash, into a fluid state, and thus taken up by 

 the roots and distributed, so as to impart to it 

 the capacity to stand erect and sustain its burthen. 



Ten bushels of ashes and one of plaster, well 

 mixed together, is sufficient for an acre, whether 

 sowed broadcast, or used in, or on the top of 

 each hill. We have sometimes thought that the 

 best disposition to be made of ashes and plaster, 

 would be, to compost them with the manure of 

 the barn yard before hauling it out to be ploughed 

 in ; by such treatment, every part of the corn 

 field would derive benefit from their application, 

 instead of its being confined to the immediate 

 vicinity of the hills. 



The soaking of the seed of corn in a weak 

 solution of saltpetre, or of copperas, before being 

 planted, has a twofold good effect — it promotes 

 early germination and prevents the depredations 

 of worms and birds. We have used both soaks, 

 and never without being impressed with the con- 

 viction of having derived advantage from each. 



We have with decided good effect sown two 

 bushels of salt, broadcast, on an acre of corn 

 after it had come up. The effect as it mani- 

 fested itself to us, was, to maintain, in one of 

 the driest seasons We ever recollect to have ex- 

 perienced, a degree of moisture on the part 

 where the salt was used, highly beneficial — to 

 have preserved the blades green when those all 

 around the salted part crumbled into powder on 

 the slightest touch of the hand. 



The remarks which we have made, are based 

 upon the result of close observation, in an expe- 

 rience of some years, and we, therefore, embody 

 them thus timely, in order that our readers may 

 avail themselves of them. Should they do so, 

 we doubt not but that their experience will be 

 coincident with our own. 



THE TEA PLANT. 

 Our readers may have noticed Mr. Puckett's 

 advertisement, which has been for some time 

 displayed upon the cover of our paper. It is 

 with great pleasure we give place to the follow^ 



