CORN. 



43 



rootlets strike perpendicularly down into the soil in search 

 of food, and fix themselves there with little delay ; tliis done 

 the germ grows in the opposite direction and becomes de- 

 veloped into the stem and leaves of tlie plant. 



The ground should be plowed when not too wet, and a plow 

 having a conical mould-board leaves the land in a light con- 

 dition, lets the air in, and is better than one which makes a 

 flat, or level furrow. I have never seen the " Shares Harrow" 

 excelled by any in use for fitting the seed bed and thoroughly 

 covering the manure to a depth of two or three inches. It 

 can be used lengthwise or across the furrows without turning 

 up the turf, does not clog, is easily drawn, and is more effec- 

 tive with half the service. 



Many good farmers spread their manure on the land de- 

 signed for the next year's crop in the month of September. 

 When the field is nearly level and the manure is not likely to 

 wash off, it becomes incorporated with the soil, which induces 

 a rich vegetation by May, or before the time of putting in the 

 seed. 



Others draw the manure to the field and place it in heaps to 

 be plowed under or spread on the furrows and harrowed in, 

 or to be put in the hill or drill. The long manure from the 

 barn cellar or heaps beside the barn, is plowed under. 



It has been a question with many practical farmers, whether 

 more corn can be raised on a given space when planted in 

 hills, or in drills, by applying the manure to the hill or drills 

 or by spreading on the surface and plowing under. 



The character of the soil, variety of corn, whether an early 

 or late kind, must be the farmer's guide to a considerable ex- 

 tent. On cold, late land, manuring in the hill or drill usually 

 produces the best crops, when upon the earlier and dryer 

 lands, surface manuring produces better, is less liable to be 

 affected by drought, with longer and better ears and less 

 stover. 



The depth to which manure should be turned under for a 

 crop, and the influence upon succeeding crops, has been, and 

 is, a question that has been often discussed. A favorite the- 

 ory advanced some years ago was, to plow under the manure 



