114 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
April 
Considerable controversy has at various times been 
carried on in regard to the relative advantagesof < s flat” 
and “ angular” lurrows. The objections to flat furrow's, 
seem however, to be much less in cases where the sub¬ 
soil plow is used, and on porous soils, than under 
other circumstances. In the management of grass-lanu, 
it is the practice in some sections to plow them up when 
the grass declines in quantity, and sow the inverted 
sward immediately with grass-seed. For this object 
the ground must be rendered sufficiently smooth to give 
a good bottom for the scythe, and for this it is neces¬ 
sary that the furrows should be considerably flat. The 
advocates of both these modes of plowing, however, 
generally agree in regard to one important requisite; 
that is the complete and effectual covering of all vege¬ 
tation. If the grass is allowed to project betvreen the 
furrows, it will grow, and not only prevent the sward 
from rotting, but Avill obstruct cultivation and injure the 
crop. There are, it is true, comparatively but few plows 
that are capable of performing, perfectly, the operation 
required; nevertheless there are some such, and the 
farmer would greatly promote his interest by using 
them. 
Management after plowing. —In a preceding portion 
of this article, it was mentioned, that for the corn crop, 
a portion of the manure would be preferred in a rotten 
state. In this latitude, to w r hich special allusion was 
made in this particular, the season of vegetation is at 
best butjust long enough to fully mature the crop. It 
becomes then a matter of the first consideration to in¬ 
duce a rapid growth of the plant from the first start, in 
order that its maturity may be rendered certain. This, 
in fact, is the grand point, for if it is not gained, the la¬ 
bors of cultivation are performed in vain. The vege¬ 
table nutriment of manures is not available till decompo¬ 
sition commences; hence green or long manures can¬ 
not afford the plant in its early stages, the support 
which it requires; sustenance must therefore be provi¬ 
ded from which it can be fed and nourished immediate¬ 
ly. The rotted manure supplies this requisite. It 
should be spread on the surface after plowing, and har¬ 
rowed in Avith a light sharp harrow. If the quantity 
applied is small, the benefit would probably be greater 
by depositing it in the row or hill. By using the rot¬ 
ted manure on the surface and covering the other, as 
mentioned, the whole food of the crop is so disposed as 
to afford a regular supply in the ratio required by the 
increasing growth. At first the plant feeds on the old 
manure, and while that is becoming exhausted, the 
long manure and the vegetable matter of the sod are 
brought to a soluble state, and as the roots are extended 
an abundant pabulum of nourishment is obtained. The 
exclusive use of thoroughly rotted manure for Indian 
corn is not advisable—its action is not sufficiently last- I 
ing—it will throw the crop forward early, and make 
plenty of stalk, but is liable to become exhausted be¬ 
fore the grain is formed. This is often the case with 
poudrette—it has in many cases proved insufficient to 
make a crop of corn without other manures, such as barn¬ 
yard dung, or a decomposing sod. Used in connexion 
with these substances, its benefit, when properly pre¬ 
pared, is undoubted. 
Mode of planting. —The distance betAveen the row r s 
or hills, number of stalks to the hill, &c., must be de¬ 
termined principally by the character of the variety cul¬ 
tivated. The different kinds require space according 
to the size and height to which they are inclined to 
grow. The smaller the kind, the closer may be the 
planting. If planted thickly, considerable advantage 
will be gained by allowing the greatest space to rows run¬ 
ning north and south, as freer access to the light and 
heat of the sun is thus afforded. In drill planting, the 
medium sized varieties usually cultivated in this lati¬ 
tude, (42^ degrees,) require a space of three feet be¬ 
tween the row's, and with this space one kernel may be 
allowed to every foot in the row, for a permanent stand. 
If land is very weedy, there is an advantage in planting 
so that the corn can be worked both ways; but to ren¬ 
der this com r enient, a less space than two and a half 
feet the narrowest Avay, would not be advisable, and 
three stalks might be allowed to a hill. 
In the selection of varieties reference should be had 
to quality of soil as well to the nature of the climate. 
A variety inclined to produce large stalks should by no 
means be put on thin land; for the food of the crop 
might be so much exhausted in producing the stalk that 
the ear might fail for want of nourishment. A larger 
variety, however, than it would be wise to plant, 
on thin land, may be profitably placed on that which is 
rich; but Avhether the kind chosen be large or small, 
or calculated for rich or poor soil, it should be regard¬ 
ed as important that it have as little stalk and cob as pos¬ 
sible in proportion to the size of the ear and the quan¬ 
tity of corn, A small cob, especially at the butt, is of 
| much consequence. In this latitude, as before remark¬ 
ed, the ripening of corn is rather precarious, and a dif¬ 
ference of only a few days in the maturing or drying of 
the grain, may seriously affect the value of the crop. 
Every one may have observed that the ears with a large 
cob and large butt, retain moisture and remain in a 
green state longer than those of an opposite description. 
This retention of moisture renders the corn liable to 
injury by moulding in the crib, or when standing in 
shocks, and also by the cob being frozen while in this 
state. The latter effect may be frequently noticed; 
on those ears which have been frozen while the cob was 
filled Avith sap or juice, the cob and the “ chit ” of the 
corn will be found black, and the kernel has in many 
cases lost its germinating power. 
To provide against eontingenees, (destruction by 
Avorms, birds, &c.,) it is proper to plant an extra num¬ 
ber of kernels. After the corn has attained the height 
of six or eight inches and is out of danger, the supernu¬ 
meraries may be pulled up, leaving only the desired 
number of stalks. 
The proper depth of covering in planting corn, de¬ 
pends on the nature and dryness of the soils. The 
depth of an inch on some soils would be equal to seve¬ 
ral inches on others. A deeper covering than is actu¬ 
ally necessary to produce healthy germination, is piejn- 
dicial to the growth of the plant, and considering all 
circumstances, there are but few cases where it would be 
advisable to cover corn more than tAVO inches, and in 
very moist soils, a covering of only an inch would be 
preferred. 
If the ground has been well prepared, and is free 
from stones, the corn may be Avell planted with a ma¬ 
chine. Lewis’ “ Seed Planter ” will perform well in 
such cases, and make a great saving of labor. 
Time of planting. —The condition of the soil as to 
warmth and moisture, and the general forwardness of 
vegetation, must regulate the time of planting. From 
the variation of the seasons it is obvious that no particu¬ 
lar day can be fixed on for this work. The rule said to 
have been followed by the Indians,—from whom we first 
obtained and learned the uses of this valuable esculent— 
—was to plant w r hen the leaves of the white oak had so 
far advanced as to show the form of a crow’s foot. The 
ground has then acquired a good degree of warmth, 
germination is quick, and the growth rapid. 
Culture of the crop while growing. The first object 
should be to keep the ground light, and the crop clean 
from weeds. On light soils, the harrow and cultivator 
may accomplish this Avithout much aid from the hoe; 
but operations must be commenced with one of these 
implements, (the harrow is perhaps preferable at first,) 
as soon as the corn appears above ground; and so fre¬ 
quently should the work be repealed as to allow no 
time for the weeds to start. 
On soils which have a tendency to become too com¬ 
pact, tools must be used which will penetrate the 
ground to a considerable depth. It is the class of soils 
which bake under the action of the sun, that suffer most 
from drouth, and the crop can in no way be so well 
protected against injury from this cause, as by frequent 
stirring and loosening the soil, by which the tendency 
to become too solid is counteracted. An implement 
with teeth like a plow coulter, two or three in a frame, 
answers this purpose well. While the corn is small, it 
may be run very close to the stalks without injury, but 
as the size of the plant increases, and the roots extend, the 
implement must not run so near. In some sections, what 
