^2 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



the tip, the rest of the ear goes for seed. Culture : I Hke a 

 warm soil well drained, well manured, and well tilled, for then 

 I find no trouble in raising corn. I prefer old ground for corn 

 but have had good success by planting on sod land. I use about 

 ten cords of stable manure per acre with 600 pounds commercial 

 fertilizer in the hill, and start the weeder about the third day- 

 after planting and keep at it once each week until the plant is 

 about three inches high, then I put the spike tooth cultivator to 

 work and keep them both at work each week until the corn 

 shows signs of spindling. I also use the hand hoe, going over 

 the piece twice during the season. 



To free a field from ravages by crows, take a pair of old pants 

 or overalls and an old coat and hat and make the scarecrow; 

 then, take three light poles, 12 feet long, tie the top ends 

 together, raise them in the form of a tripod ; tie a small cord 

 around the neck of the image, raise it up inside the tripod about 

 six inches from the ground, so that any light breeze will turn it 

 and the crows will give it a wide berth. It is a good plan to 

 put on a mask under the hat. Two scarecrows are enough for 

 an acre, one near the end on opposite corners ; place them on 

 the side of the piece and they will not hinder cultivation." 



The following letter carries a good lesson, both of work done 

 and faith in the possibilities of the future. These 19 1-4 rods 

 gave 153-7 bushels shelled corn or practically 124 bushels per 

 acre. Young men who stop and question may well pattern after 

 ]Mr. Winn's methods and surely grasp a measure of his faith. 



West Falmouth, November 27, 1908. 

 Dr. Tzvitchell: 



Dear Sir : — As you are to discuss the corn crop and how to 

 improve it at the coming Dairy Conference, I send you a sample 

 of my improved seed raised the past season. 



From 19 1-4 square rods of sandy loam planted May 23rd 

 and ready for harvesting the first of September I raised 24 

 bushel market boxes of corn on the cob. each box containing 45 

 pounds of ears. By September 15th this corn was all in the 

 corn house. This was originally the Canada Early but by 

 crossing and selection I have increased its size and still retain 

 its earliness. There is no trouble in raising one hundred bushels 

 or more of shelled corn per acre. From some experiments 



