THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
39 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1S44. 
THE BACK VOLUME. 
Ail new subscribers who may desire it, can 
obtain the first volume, neatly bound in boards, 
at one dollar the volume. 
Culture of Corn. — As this is the sea.son 
for planting this most valuable crop, in the ab- 
sence of original communications on the sub- 
ject, we have transferred to our columns the 
first part of the Prize Essay of Mr. Williams, 
read before an Agrijultural Society in Ken- 
tucky, and shall conclude it in our next, — to 
which we invite the reader’s attention. Al- 
though this Essay is particularly adapted to the 
culiure and climate of Kentucky, yet it will be 
found to contain much valuable information to 
planters in every section, w'here corn is culti- 
vated. 
The first and most important consideration to 
every planter, in the culture of any thing and 
every thing, is the proper application of manure 
— a subject in which the investigations of sci- 
ence are every day making new and important 
discoveries. It therefore behooves every plant- 
er, who desires to pursue a profitable system of 
Agriculture, to investigate thoroughly this im- 
portant branch ofhis pursuit — make himself fa- 
miliar with the properties and relative values of 
the difl’erent manures, and the manner of their 
application to his soils and crops ; and then it 
behooves him to adopt that system of culiure 
w’hich the experience of enlightened men has 
established, as best adapted to each particular 
soil, climate and production. 
It will not do for men, in this age of enlight- 
ened, scientific agriculture, to assert, that be- 
cause they have devoted tlieir whole lives to the 
practical operaLions of farming, they cannot, in 
middle age,- or even at a more advanced period 
of life, be taught something new. Such an opin- 
ion, if entertained by any, and we know it is 
held by some, is very absurd. As well might 
that man, who could not read or wwite, but who 
had nevertheless kept his mind constantly em- 
ployed in the contemplation of some particular 
branch of science, say ihat he could not be taught 
by one whose acquirements had enabled him, 
through a long course of investigation and sci- 
entific research, to comprehend it fully in all its 
details. 
Jt is but recently, in this country, that the aid 
of science has been sought in the pursuit of ag- 
riculture. Why, then, may it not accomplish, 
in this important branch of industry, triumphs 
equally great, as all admit it has performed, in 
mechanics'? Has it not a wider field for the 
display of its extraordinary powers in the ac- 
complishment of good 7 Most assuredly. Wh}'-, 
then, we ask, .shall the Agriculturist reject the 
benefits of its teachings in this particular branch 
of industry, while he so readil}" acquiesces in its 
utility in every other department 7 
But, -we have been led into a train of thought 
which we did not contemplate. Our object was 
simply to direct the reader’s attention to the Es- 
say of Mr. Williams. 
Corn Stalk Sugar. — A friend in Walton 
county, has afforded us the following informa- 
tion in reference to the relative value of early 
and late Corn, for the purposes of making Su- 
gar, which may be advantageo”s to those who 
are disposed to make the experiment of making 
Sugar from Corn-stalks. Although this subject 
has attracted much attention throughout the 
country, for the last two years, it is not yet suf- 
ficiently tested to establish the practicability of 
making it a profitable business. It is, however, 
yet in its infancy ; and as the experiments already 
made have gone far to con' nice many of its utili- 
ty, it is impossible to form any idea of the im- 
provements which time and experience, aided 
by science, may accomplish in this branch of 
industry. We hope, therefore, that our planters 
will continue to make experiments until they 
have fully satisfied themselves of its utility. 
I hav’ known, for many years past, that the 
stalks of late planted corn contain at least twice 
as much saccharine as those of early planting — 
and have wondered that persons raising corn for 
the purpose of making sugar, had not observed 
the fact. Corn, to make sugar, should not be 
planted in the lower part of Georgia, before 
about the fijst of July or as late as it will bear 
plantinsf, in order to come to maturity before the 
frost will injure it. Corn, in the upper parts of 
the State, and further North, might be planted 
in June. In the early settling of some of the 
middle counties ofGeorgia, we often had to plant 
our ground in corn, after cutting off the wheat on 
account of the scarcity of open land : I then dis- 
covered that the stalks of this late planted corn 
contained almost as much saccharine as the su- 
gar cane — and I have frequently observed the 
same fact since with late planted corn. Let 
those who intend experimenting on cornstalk 
sugar, try the plan of late planting, and they will 
see a surprising difference in the sweetness of 
the stalks. 
CORN COBS. 
We extract the following from a communica- 
tion in the Central N. Y. Farmer, by C. N. Be- 
ment. Esq, : 
“We will take the present opportunity of di- 
recting the attention of our readers to the great 
value of meal obtained by grinding corn and cob 
together for stock: and from the many evidenc- 
es of practical farmers, as well as from experi- 
ments of our own, we cannot but press it upon 
the attention of the prudent farmer. Many will 
object to this on account of the low price at 
which corn and oats are selling. But we see 
no reason why a farmer should throw away or 
squander his feed, because it sells at a low price. 
V’V’e conceive that one of the very best reasons 
why he should economise in every possible 
manner, so that he can have more to sell, and 
the extra quantity make up the deficiency in 
price. 
That there is a nutritious substance in the 
cob, no one, we think, that has paid any atten- 
tion to the subject, will pretend to deny. In 
throwing away the cobs of our corn, we have 
been wasting very good feed. On distillation of 
four gallons of cob meal, four gallons of spirits 
have been obtained, and other nutritive matter 
besides saccharine, such as mucilage and oils, 
has been found in it. ‘But besides the actual 
economy,’ says a writer in the American Far-^ 
mer, ‘ there is another advantage in this way of 
leeding corn, which ought to engage th-e atten- 
tion of every farmer. It is notoriously true, that 
the ungroupd grain of corn is heating to the 
stomach of all animals, and of difficult dige.s- 
tion, producing cholic and other inflammatory 
disorders, particularly in horses. They are de- 
prived of the benefiis derived from the stimulus 
of distension, (so necessary to the health of all 
animals,) by being unable to eat a sufficient 
bulk to produce it, before they become gorged.’ 
For hogs, corn and cob meal is much improv- 
ed by scalding, and by boiling with vegetables 
of any kind, and still more by a partial fermen? 
tation. 
The manner of feeding stock on raw or unr 
ground corn, is too common. It is undoubtedly 
one of tlie best of grains to finish off a lot of 
stock; but it lacks bulk, and is too stimulating 
without some coarser or more bulky substance 
to mix with it. Corn alone gives too much fat 
inside, without a corresponding bulk of flesh 
out.-ide. It has been found that corn and oats, 
equally m:'xed and gr und together, will im- 
prove and latten hogs faster than the same 
amount of corn alone. 
HINTS TO FARMERS. 
Great profits in agriculture can result only 
from great improvements of the soil. 
Great improvements ofthe soil can result on- 
ly from unremitting industry. 
The chief study of every farmer should be 
xolial is xisefvl, and xchat is useless expense, ixi rela- 
tion to his art. The discrimination between 
these is the master kpy of the farmer’s prosperi- 
ty. The first should be incurred with a freedom 
little short of profusion. The last should be 
shunned, as lire sailor shuns the rocks, where 
are seen the wreck of the hopes of proceeding 
mariners. 
Liberality in providing utensils, is the saving 
of both time and labor. The more perfect his 
instruments, the more profitable are they. 
So also is it with his working cattle and his 
stock. The most perfect in their kinds are ev- 
er the most profitable. 
Liberality, in good barns and warm shelters, 
is the source of health, strength, and comfort tp 
animals; causes them to thrive on less food, 
and secures from damage all sorts of crops. 
Liberality also, in the provision of food for 
domestic animals, is the source of flesh, muscle 
and manure. 
Liberality to the earth, in seed, culture and 
compost, is the source of its bounty. 
Thus it is in agriculture, as in every part of 
creation ; a wise and Paternal Providence has 
inseparably connected our duty with our happi- 
ness. 
In cultivating the earth, the condition of 
man’s success is his industry upon it. 
In raising domestic animals, the condition of 
his success is, kindness and bepeyolence tp 
them. 
In making the productiveness ofthe earth de-s 
pend upon the diligence and wisdom of the cul- 
tivator, the Universal Father has inseparably 
connected the fertility of his creation with the 
strongest intellectual inducements and the high- 
est moral motives. 
In putting the brutal world under his domin- 
ion, he has placed the happiness of which their 
nature is susceptible, under the strong guaran- 
tee of man’s interest. 
Instead, therefore, of repining at his lot, let 
the cultivator of the ground consider his as 
among the highest and happiest of all human 
destinies, since in relation to the earth he is the 
instrument of Heaven’s bounty ; and in rela- 
tion to the inferior orders of creation, the almo- 
ner of Providence, 
A beautiful Oriental proverb runs thus 
“ With time and patience, themulberry leaf be- 
comes satin,” 
