WESTERN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY. 
29 
and the fourth acre to two stalks in a hill. The 
number of stalks in each acre (if none had been missing) 
would have been as follows: 
No. 1 , 34 by 4 feet, 9,335. 
2 , 3* by 3 4 “ 10 , 668 . 
3, 3$ by 3 « 12,447. 
4, 34 by 24 et two in a hill, 9,956. 
This crop, of course, suffered equally from the 
drought with that above described, and having more 
outside rows was more depredated upon by the crows, 
and did not stand quite as well or with such perfect 
regularity as the other in the hills. Making the 
proper allowances for these causes, I did not calcu¬ 
late upon quite as large a product as from the other 
field. Upon gathering and accurately measuring each 
acre separately, I found the product as follows : No. 
1. 68 bushels; No. 2. 69; No. 3. 69; No. 4. 77J. 
Thus the acre planted 3£ by 4 feet produced nearly 
as well as that planted 34 feet each way; and the 
latter produced the same quantity as that planted 34 
by 3 feet; and the acre planted 34 by 24 feet, and 
only two stalks in a hill, produced 84 bushels more 
than either of the others. From this experiment, it 
would seem that in the best of ground, where three 
stalks are intended to be left in a hill, the distance, 
each way, should not be less than 34 feet; and that 
where it is intended to plant more closely, not more 
than two stalks should be left in a hill. The acre 
planted 3$ by 2£ feet produced decidedly the best; 
but it was too close one way to be plowed with con¬ 
venience. Thus planted there were 8f square feet 
for each hill. If planted 3 feet each way there would 
be nine square feet to each hill, and the distance would 
be more convenient for plowing both ways. I in¬ 
cline to think that planting 3 feet each way, with 
two stalks in a hill, would be the most eligible for 
convenience and product. As a single experiment is 
not very satisfactory, I intend, if I am spared, to re¬ 
peat the experiment next year on the same ground, 
laying it off* one way 3 feet; and the other 4, 34 and 
and 3 feet, thinning the last to two stalks in a hill, 
and the other two acres to three stalks in a hill. In 
this last experiment I planted the same kind of corn 
as in the other. A. Beatty. 
Prospect Hill } Dec. 1st, 1844. 
To such of our readers as may not have seen the 
third volume of this periodical, it is proper to say, 
that they will find complete Northern and Southern 
Calendars published there, with full directions for the 
management of the Farm, Stock, &c. The Western 
Calendar, which w T e shall give monthly in this volume, 
is from the pen of one of the most distinguished 
practical farmers in Kentucky, the Hon. Adam Beatty. 
WESTERN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY. 
In this month, the soil is generally bound up by 
frost, so that no plowing can be done. But the far¬ 
mer should have his plows put in order, and new 
ones procured, if needed, so that no time may be lost 
when the earth is in a proper condition to be plowed. 
Early plowing makes early crops, which generally— 
almost invariably—succeed best. 
Care of Stock.—' This is a trying month for stock, 
and all animals should be well fed, and protected 
from the wet and cold as far as possible; always 
recollecting, that where facilities for sheltering stock do 
not exist, the best substitute is good feeding. An ani¬ 
mal in good flesh can withstand cold and wet twice 
as well as one of “ Pharoah’s lean kine.” 
Breaking Hemp. —In those parts of the west 
where hemp is cultivated, much of the cold, dry por¬ 
tions of this month may be appropriated to breaking 
it, as cold, frosty weather is the best suited for this 
process. Hemp spread the latter part of October of 
the preceding year, will have been sufficiently water¬ 
ed (rotted) to take up and put into shocks by the last 
of December ; and the prudent hemp grower will by 
this time, have had all his brakes put in order, and 
new ones procured if needed (always secure those of 
the best possible construction), that no delay may 
take place in breaking out his crop. This is a heavy 
operation, and if not hurried on early, will run into 
the spring work and greatly retard the pitching of the 
crop; and will, moreover, produce a necessity for 
breaking in warm weather, when the process is more 
difficult and attended with some loss of lint. 
Bulking Tobacco. —Tobacco cut in due season the 
previous fall, will have been profitably cured by the 
month of December. Much of the crop will have 
been stripped in that month, and a due proportion of 
what remains should be bulked down in stalk, for 
stripping in damp weather in January. Thus there 
will be no lack of employment in wet weather. 
Management of Manure. —Hemp growers are usu¬ 
ally not cultivators of tobacco. In wet times they 
may be engaged in bailing hemp—if they are furnish¬ 
ed with a hemp press—and cleaning out their stables, 
cow sheds, &c. The best method of doing so, is to 
have the manure thrown at once into a tilt-cart and 
hauled to the field to which it is to be applied, the 
driver being furnished with a great coat to turn the 
rain. By having two carts the operation will be 
hastened, and one great coat will serve both drivers. 
Let it be recollected that when manure is hauled to 
the ground which needs it, all the extract drawn from 
it by the rains is given to the soil, whereas if left at 
the stable, this is entirely lost. Besides, there is a 
much greater loss by rapid decomposition and escape 
of valuable gasses, when the manure is left in a large 
bulk at the stable door. 
General Observations. —When not engaged in othei 
necessary work, as large a stock of firewood as pos¬ 
sible should be laid up. Let this supply be always 
kept largely ahead, and there will be no necessity to 
stop other useful labors to haul wood to keep the 
family comfortable, and the cook supplied with this 
indispensable necessary. Graziers, who feed large 
numbers of cattle upon cut up corn, must daily —wet 
or dry—haul out their usual supply, on Saturday a 
double portion. The same wagons that haul out 
corn, may return loaded with wood, after the feeding 
for the day is completed. As this is a work of all 
weather, the hands thus employed should be furnish¬ 
ed with oil-cloth coats to protect them from the 
weather, and thus save doctor’s bills. In this incle¬ 
ment month, the children should be sheltered in com¬ 
fortable school-houses, and engaged in laying a foun¬ 
dation for future usefulness in all the occupations of 
life. The farmers, too, in the long nights of Janua¬ 
ry, may be profitably employed in reading the news¬ 
papers and instructive books, and especially in 
studying the best authors who have written upon 
agriculture, the most useful of all the arts, and thus 
uniting theory and practice, become perfectly skilled 
in their profession 
