CORN. 61 



Question. About how many stalks remained in a hill ? 



Mr. Hart. From three to five. In another part of the 

 same field, where I raised a crop of one hundred bushels, it 

 was planted two and a half feet apart in the row, and the rows 

 three and a half feet apart. It was on a southwest inclina- 

 tion, so that the rays of the sun would penetrate it, and the 

 growth was large. The corn was soaked in water saturated 

 with saltpeter, and favorable weather was selected in which 

 to plant it. It showed itself in four days, and in five it was 

 quite perceptible ; in six, you could stand at the end of a row 

 and see the young blades of corn the whole length ; and its 

 growth was in that proportion all the way through. 



Question. How much manure did you use ? 



Mr. Hart. Twenty cart loads to the acre. I think Mr. 

 Gold adopts a somewhat similar practice, as do many of our 

 farmers. We have a rugged soil, and when we clear off the 

 stone, it is a darkish friable loam, resting upon a hard-pan 

 sub-soil, but very productive, where thorough work is made 

 of it. 



Question. I would like to inquire whether the gentlemen 

 present have found any difference in the yield of different 

 kinds of corn ? I think that is a matter of some importance. 



Mr. Hart. I would say that the corn that I raised for a 

 great many years was the Button corn. The seed was pro- 

 cured of Judge Buell, who was formerly editor of the "Albany 

 Cultivator." I think my father was the first person who in- 

 troduced it into this state. The ears came eight inches long, 

 and with from twelve to twenty rows on an ear. My father 

 adopted the practice of selecting his seed corn when cutting it 

 up, from stalks that had two ears upon them, intending to de- 

 crease the size of the cob, and increase the length of the ear, 

 in which he succeeded to such an extent, that finally we often 

 came across ears of the Button corn fourteen inches long. 

 This variety was extensively disseminated through Litchfield 

 county, and even sent to other parts of the state. 



Question. I will inquire of Mr. Hart if he invariably took 

 his seed corn from stalks that had two ears ? 



Mr. Hart. I did, for years. 



