FARMEKS' IXSTITUTES. 143 



51-100 bushels, and in 1853 it was 33 14-100 bushels, being a loss of almost 

 four bushels per acre. I have been unable to ascertain our average yield later 

 than 1873. You will please to remember these figures, as I shall have occasion 

 to use them again before I close. 



It will be my purpose to discuss the subject assigned to me so as to demon- 

 strate to you, farmers of Berrien count}', iiow we can restore our rank, not 

 only to the 7th (where we stood twenty years ago), bnt to show you how we 

 can stand at the very head of the list of counties. For with our favored location 

 and climate and a soil proverbial for fertility wherever the St. Joseph valley 

 is known, we sliould be content with no inferior rank. 



I believe that the average per acre for the entire State is too low ; that it is 

 entirely and disgracefully low ; that there arc but two reasons why it is so low, 

 viz. : ignorance of the nature and habits of the corn plant and alack of proper 

 cultivation. It is true that we have not in Michigan the rich bottom lauds of 

 the Sciota or Miami, or the climate of southern Ohio or Indiana, but notwith- 

 standing tliis I affirm that with proper culture the average Michigan acre can 

 be made to produce very nearly if not fully double the present average rate. 



No farmer who raises corn on any of our Michigan soil that is at all adapted 

 to its cultivation should be content with a less yield than fifty bushels per 

 acre. And if he is the fortunate owner of one of our fertile Berrien county 

 farms he should not be satisfied with less than sixty, sixty-five, or even seventy 

 bushels ])er acre; and a few of our best farms are capable of producing 

 seventy-five or eighty bushels, with proper cultivation. The conditions essen- 

 tial for producing a good crop of corn are so various and differing so widely in 

 character, and yet all of them so important in their respective uses, that it is 

 important that they should all be considered. But in the limited time allowed 

 me it will not be possible for me to do anything further than merely allude to 

 a few of them. 



First, let me say that the soil should be of the right character, possessing in a 

 high degree the material upon whicli corn is nourished. Again, the season 

 must be suitable, with suflicient but not too much moisture or rainfall. The 

 plowing must be done at the right time and with the right kind of a plow. 

 The seed must be well selected. Planting must be at the right time and in 

 proper manner, and the subsequent cultivation at regular intervals, with im- 

 plements suitable for the purpose. You will readily see that I can only refer 

 specifically to but a few of the points named. Hence in order to discuss the 

 subject methodically I will first consider the preparation of the soil or seed-bed. 

 Next, the time and manner of planting, and in tlie last plan the proper mode 

 of cultivation. 



I ask you to remember that I am to treat of the subject in a general way, 

 of farms as they average and the seasons as they occur, and you must not 

 expect that what may follow will be applicable to every individual or farm. In 

 our latitude the farming season being short and work always pressing, we 

 almost invariably begin plowing for corn too early. There are a few crops that 

 will grow and flourish on land that is cloddy or sodden. Not so with corn; 

 to succeed it must have a loose, mellow or porous soil and sub-soil, so that the 

 tender fibrous roots can permeate the entire surface and feed upon the dainties 

 that nature is continually compounding only in a soil of this character. 

 Such a condition of soil is impossible if the plow share is driven through it 

 before the accumulation of water induced by the winter snows and spring rains 

 has had ample time to disappear. I repeat it because it is fundamental and 

 of the first importance. A good thrifty growth of corn you cannot secure on 



