66 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



centre of seed vitality. Is the lower level of production a 

 necessity or the result of failure at some critical point? 



With these facts before us, it may not be out of place to 

 emphasize certain well recognized facts underlying successful 

 corn production. Fortunately the hillsides of Maine, lying in 

 the corn belt, are ])eculiarly adapted to the crop, and the soil, 

 whether of a clay loam or rocky formation, calls only for thor- 

 ough ])re])aration to do its best. That thoroughness may well be 

 emphasized, as the radical changes in farm machinery are likely, 

 unless guarded, to lead to superficial prei)aration for cropping. 

 Not alone the releasing of plant food but that deep stirring of 

 the soil, to admit air and sunlight, become necessary when full 

 crops are desired. 



The more thorough the work in the beginning, the greater the 

 harvest. Those who criticise what they call extravagant 

 claims are usually those who gloss over their work. A smooth 

 surface may not indicate a well worked field. A full crop 

 requires a hearty meal every day until perfected and no man 

 can afford to stint his corn field when fertilizing. Xot how 

 little will answer but liow much will be profitable must be the 

 rule. Everywhere those who grow the largest crops are the 

 most liberal, and at the same time, most intelligent feeders. No 

 man should be satisfied with a vield of fiftv bushels to the acre. 

 The line of profit is above and it must be found and complete 

 fertilization is as necessary as thorough cultivation. 



The seed must be that which for years has been grown under 

 the eye of a painstaking man, taken from the most vigorous 

 stalks, thoroughly cured and when shelled saved from the centre 

 of the ears, leaving at least one inch of tip and butt. The aver- 

 age corn crop of the country is placed at 24.2 bushels ])er acre, 

 not because more cannot be produced but because men will not 

 meet their part of the contract. In one experiment, seventeen 

 bushels of fine ears were selected from good stalks just after 

 ripening. After a closer examination of these ears and the 

 testing and measuring of a few kernels from each, enough very 

 choice ears were selected and used the next spring to plant 10 

 acres in the corner of a 63 acre field. The remaining 53 acres 

 were planted with the remaining best ears of the 17. bushels. 

 Other similar fields surrounding the 63 acres were planted in 



