196 



would undoubtedly show an increase in the aggregate, of at 

 least 15 or 20 per cent, over the present returns. 



As other evidence in defence of our position, we would 

 refer any one interested to the many accounts published of 

 extraordinary yields of corn, in either of the great corn 

 growing States of the west, (particularly Ohio, Tennessee 

 or Kentucky,) and where an explanation of the plan of 

 production is appended, we venture to challenge the instance 

 in which the shovel plow or any other ditching machine has 

 been used in tending the crop. In every such case (that has 

 come under our notice,) a cultivator or implement of similar 

 construction has been used. 



The kinds of corn that are cultivated are generally of the 

 gourd varieties. Though we may in many cases, without 

 much difficulty, discover evident traces of almost all existing 

 varieties in the same field. An attempt has been made to 

 introduce the Virginia white gourd seed, but the length of 

 our seasons are unsuited to the culture of so late a variety. 

 This however, mixed with the Pennsylvania or Sioux flint, 

 gives weight and plumpness to the grain, and ensures a much 

 earlier and more certain harvest. 



We have introduced a variety of pure yellow corn, (slightly 

 indented) from Southern Ohio, which promises to yield abund- 

 ently, much more so than any kind we have noticed in the 

 county. The only precaution necessary in the cultivation of 

 it is, to plant early, (about the first of May) as it is rather 

 later than the varieties commonly in use. 



The average yield per acre for the past season, is not so 

 large as that of the past. The early part of the tending 

 season being so rainy, that in many cases, farmers were com- 

 pelled to abandon large fields that had been planted, and con- 

 fine their labor to only a part of the ground they had intended 

 to cultivate — many entire crops were in consequence, but 

 slightly tended and the result was a diminished yield. We 

 think the average for the present season may be rated at 

 forty bushels per acre, although this seems a low estimate, it 



