50 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



coarse and green manure before plowing, wliicli as dceompo 

 sition progressed and the gases were generated, these could 

 be taken up and thoroughly disseminated through the sod. 

 but manuring should not rest here. Before planting, the 

 more finely comminuted manure should be spread upon the 

 surface and thoroughly incorporated with the soil previous to 

 planting. Again, upon the supposition that the field has been 

 previously cultivated and is to be plowed in the fall, if manure 

 is at hand, it would be highly desirable that a quantity be 

 spread and plowed in, as thereby all its parts would be 

 thoroughly disseminated throughout the soil. But omitting 

 this and passing to spring plowing, this should be preceded 

 by a liberal supply of coarse manure evenly spread upon the 

 surface, and then before planting let the fine manure of the 

 yard be spread and thorouglily harrowed in, and if the appli- 

 cations have been sufficiently liberal, the field is ready for 

 planting. The surface should be marked perhaps both ways, 

 at least three feet apart, as it is believed that tlie size of the 

 corn more than compensates for the extra number of hills 

 gained by closer planting. Having the surface marked, then 

 comes the question of manuring in the hill. It was formerly 

 believed to be the best policy to spread on manure lightly and 

 then use a large quantity in the hill ; but later experience has 

 demonstrated the absurdity of such practice, for the reason 

 that as soon as the corn obtains a fair start in life it sends out 

 its roots in search of sustenance, but the manure in the hill 

 being contained in a limited compass is soon left, and so does 

 not become available for food for the corn ; therefore it is that 

 during later years the practice has been rather, to spread a 

 large proportion or the whole of the manure of the yard, and 

 in the hill use some powerful compost, or commercial ferti- 

 lizer, in small quantity, which, acting as a stimulant, occasions 

 such rapid growth early in the season, as to force the roots in 

 all directions, whereby they are enabled to drink in the ferti- 

 lizing elements that have by that time become better prepared 

 for their use. An application of ashes is frequently made, by 

 spreading the same upon the hill, which lias a very beneficial 

 effect upon the growth of the corn. Whenever the above 



