104 



Corn. 



This crop has been extensively cultivated for a number of years, and is now 

 regarded as one of our principal staples. We raise a number of varieties, but 

 the one mostly preferred is a yellow dent, weighing 56 to 58 lbs. to the measured 

 bushel; yielding well and ripening early. 



Good farmers plow deep, and as early in the spring as they can — ^late iu the 

 fall is better — mark out four feet apart each way; plant from the 1st to the 15th 

 of May, and then harrow once; plow from three to five times — the more the 

 better — with double or single shovels, and hoe enough to keep the hills clean 

 and the corn upright. In this way we get fifty bushels or over per acre. 



The corn crop of each year is generally sold and sent forward the succeeding 

 year. And during the year 1851 there has been shipped at Michigan City 482,- 

 616 bushels, at an average cost paid the producer of 32 cents, or $154,437 12. 



In addition to this, our home consumption of corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and 

 provisions, has been largely increased by the thousand and upwards employed 

 on the different railroads passing through the county. 



Oats. 



The quantity raised in the county is estimated at over 200,000 bushels. But 

 as my object is to give the surplus of our production only, I will confine myself 

 to such limits as cannot well be questioned. Then there has been shipped from 

 Michigan City during the year, 25,026 bushels; and the lowest estimate of extra 

 consumption by railroads as above, put them down at 15,000 bushels; say then 

 40,000 bushels at an average cost of 25 cents per bushel, or in the aggregate 

 $10,000. Of oats we sow from l}.^ to 2 bushels to the acre, and gather 40 

 bushels. 



Barley 



Is raised in small quantities, probably 10,000 bushels annually, one-half of 

 which, or more, is sold to go elsewhere — say 5,000 bushels — and has brought 

 forty to fifty cents per bushel during the year, say 45 cents, amounting to 

 $2,250. We sow two, and get forty bushels per acre. 



Rye. — Eut little raised or enquired after. 



Grass. 



Clover is being raised to some extent as a fertilizer of the soil, and mixed with 

 timothy for pasture and for hay. The two, or timothy separate, yields from 

 one to two tons per acre of hay, at a cost including ground rent, of four to five 

 dollars, and sells in our towns at six to ten dollars. Large quantities of marsh 

 grass are annually cut, at a cost of one and a half dollars per ton in the stack; 

 and for sheep or cattle, where well saved, is a fair substitute. With a little corn, 

 both winter well upon it. 



