148 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not have it four or five inches down. I believe in fall plowing ; it destroys the 

 weeds and the worms. Last year the early planted corn was better than the 

 late, and I believe that to be a general truth every year. 



Mr. Grey. — Thought that 50 years ago corn was raised witliout niucli effort. 

 The squaws raised corn by pulling up the hazel brush. Our soil was better 

 then than it will ever be again. Our soils are not as good as they were formerly, 

 and they never can be in that condition. 



Mr. Sparks. — Said he agreed with Mr. Ilelniic when his proviso was in full 

 force in regard to the condition of the soil. I would plant any time when the 

 soil is in good condition. Now it is not a fact that our soil is deteriorating, 

 every novice knows that he can raise more on an old field than on a new field. 



F. R. Harding. — Did not believe in the double shovel plow any more than in 

 the cultivator. "We could raise as much corn to the acre with a cultivator. 



Mr. Glytton. — Did not agree with Mr. Sparks in regard to the number of 

 kernels to the hill, neither as to the distance apart of the hills. I do not 

 believe in the old rhyme — 



"One for the black bird, 

 One for the cro\v, 

 One to get mouldy 

 And one to grow." 



I would plant 3 kernels in a hill, but I would first test these to be sure they 

 would grow. I stated a calculation that showed that an increase of size of the 

 ears one-fifth, made a great difference in the yield of a field. He would rather 

 have the hills farther apart than four feet, than nearer. 



Mr. Clark thought that the number of kernels in a hill depended upon the 

 richness of the soil ; said he believed that the reason corn was not as good a 

 crop as formerly was the fact that corn was not as well cultivated. 



W. Hamilton said he obtained a yield of 40 bushels of corn per acre, with 

 three kernels in a hill ; the next year, on the same field, he planted his corn 

 four feet apart, two kernels in a hill, and he obtained 50 bushels per acre. 

 He manured his field well before his first crop. 



Mr. Helmic thought he would not plant less than three kernels in a hill 

 under any condition. He thought Mr. Hamilton obtained a larger yield the 

 second year more because of the effect of the manure than because of the 

 diminished amount of seed. 



Mr. J. Bedger would like to know how corn was planted, with a machine or by 

 hand. I plant by a machine, about 1| inch deep. I consider two kernels to 

 the hill sufficient. I have used a machine for the past 15 years, and have 

 uniformly secured good results. 



Mr. Glytton. — I have planted with a machine, and with boys; now I plant 

 by men, and have better crops now than ever before. I never used a horse 

 corn planter. 



Mr. J. Bedger. — I plant with a horse power machine. I have used a har- 

 row with success when the corn was small. 



Mr. Gray said he offered to pick out, with a neighbor, 50 hills containing 

 two stalks, his neighbor to pick out 50 hills containing five stalks each, and 

 the man who could make the best showing from these hills was to have the 

 corn crop of both fields. His neighbor would not accept. 



Mr. Rogers would like to know about the influence of forests. I believe that 

 formerly they did much to influence the climate, and consequently the corn 

 crop. 



