344 
THE CULT I VATOR 
Noy. 
Perkins's Corn Hnsker. 
This machine will hash 
corn of any size, on the 
stalk, just as cut from the 
ground. 
The operator, seated on 
the machine, holds with 
the left hand, the ear under 
the cutters, and with the 
mallet, A, in the right 
hand, striking the short 
lever, B , downwards, cuts 
the ear close to the first 
row of kernels, (the cutters 
being in contact or close 
together when they de¬ 
scend,) then striking the 
long lever, C, outward , 
the OPjr is pushed entirely 
out of the husk, being but 
two motions—first, down¬ 
ward, second, outward. It husks as fast as the stalks are placed under the cutters; and from 50 to 100 per 
cent, more corn can be husked per day, with this machine, than by hand, and all severe and painful hand labor 
entirely avoided. So the inventor claims. 
The iron work is of wrought iron, and the machine is warranted not to break by fair usage. The edges of 
the cutters are to be adjusted one-eighth of an inch above the table. 
Size of Machine. —Height, 16 inches ; length, 28 inches ; width, 9 inches ; and weight, 17 lbs. Price, $5 50. 
Fall Plowing. 
Messrs. Editors — Late sowing and planting, to 
judge from my few years' experience in farming, seems 
to be the cause to which most frequently the failure of 
our spring crops may be traced. Late sowing, after 
hasty and imperfect preparation, in nine cases out of 
ten, results in a poor crop. Our summers are frequent¬ 
ly dry; if the drouth comes on early, the crop is 
pinched while attempting to root, and can never attain 
full growth. If it had started earlier, the drouth 
which now so materially affects the product, would 
have injured it much less—the roots having a deeper 
hold upon the soil. This every farmer finds to be the 
case. 
But why do we sow and plant so late when we know 
the risk taken ? Because the spring season is often wet 
and cold ; we cannot plow our heavy soils until “ settled 
warm weather,” and then the pressure of work is 
great—we have barley, oats and corn to prepare for— 
fences to repair—manure to draw out—a hundred 
things to do in a few short weeks, and in consequence 
some must be delayed—none have that thoroughness 
which should be bestowed upon them. In consequence 
of this delay our barley and oats dry up, our corn is 
cut by early frost—and not a few of the many things 
which ought to be done, are totally neglected. 
Among the ways of hastening the work within the 
reach of every farmer, we reckon fall plowing as of 
no small importance. It will mend the matter in sev¬ 
eral respects. The land latest fit for plowing in the 
spring, is generally in its best condition in autumn, 
and needs “the ameliorating influences of fermenta¬ 
tion and frost,” to fit it for spring crops. We have a 
case in sight, where a clayey field was broken up late 
in spring, when too dry, and consequently came up in 
large lumps—larger, many of them, than the horses’ 
heads. This was four years ago, and the ground has 
not yielded a crop of much account since, though fall 
plowing last year, improved the last crop considerably. 
It is equally injurious to plow when toawet—as was a 
portion of the same field—though it will do to plow 
land moister in autumn than in the spring. 
Green-sward is better subdued and mellowed by fall 
plowing, than by that of any other season. The work 
should be thoroughly done„ and the sward will be tho¬ 
roughly cleared of vegetable growth—weeds and grass 
turned under perfectly in autumn, do not often make 
their appearance again. And, by the way, though I 
would plant corn on manured greensward plowed in 
spring, I would not sow any other spring crop. I have 
tried it to my satisfaction ; and though the sward was 
plowed early and well, and harrowed and gang-plow¬ 
ed until in fine tilth, the oat crop was very moderate, 
and such has ever been my experience on spring plow¬ 
ed green-sward. 
Other advantages of fall plowing might be enume¬ 
rated—such as the state of the team, the price of 
labor, the hastening of spring work, etc.; but any far¬ 
mer who will think about it will see very readily that 
it is advisable to plow all that he can for spring-wheat, 
barley and oats, &c., in the fall, especially on heavy 
lands. 
Let no one try the experiment unless he is willing 
to do the work thoroughly—as well as if preparing for 
his most important crop. It is of very little use to 
turn over the soil in autumn, if you leave it to be cov¬ 
ered with water through the winter. It will become 
as hard as before—the frost produces no favorable 
effect upon it—and, instead of drying off light and 
mellow in the spring, it wili be baked and hard, fit for 
no crop, and not readily fitted for one. Plow narrow 
leads, clean out all the dead furrows, provide careful¬ 
ly for the drainage of all surface water, and as much 
below the surface as may be, and you will become a 
believer in fall plowing. A Young Farmer. Nia¬ 
gara Co., N. Y. 
