SEED CORN. 45 



corn, is capable in time of developing results which to our 

 present knowledge would justly be deemed astounding. 



AVhat standard should be urged for the farmer to attain ? 

 This is a question very readily answered. Let each former 

 improve his seed ever so little, and keep at it, and soon 200 

 bushels of shelled corn per acre, at harvest, will seem no 

 more strange than 100 bushels does now. Fertilizer can be 

 bought at any time without previous preparation ; we can 

 cultivate as seems to us best, but seed, good seed, satisfac- 

 tory seed, is to be attained only by eifort extending over 

 considerable time, and an effort, which must ever be regulated 

 by wise experiment of farmers who shall not have their faith 

 destro}'ed by discouragement in partial failures, and through 

 defeats shall study the way to victor3\ We have no satisfac- 

 tory seed corn as yet ; it remains to be furnished through the 

 combined efforts of farmers who study and observe, and who 

 in benefiting themselves by its production shall unconsciously 

 becomes the benefiters of the race. 



Discussion. 



Question. What is your method of root pruning? 



Answer. The cultivator is the best method I know of. 



Mr. Harris. I wish to ask you in regard to the applica- 

 tion of superphosphate. I have had a little experience with 

 it, with some things, but I wish to ask you in regard to its 

 application to corn ? 



Ans. I think it to be a very good fertilizer-, and I com- 

 monly apply it in the hill. 



QuES. In selecting seed for planting, would you take all 

 the seeds from that ear of corn on the table ? 



Ans. You ask a difficult question, very difficult indeed. 

 Some authorities claim that the bottom is better, and some 

 claim the exact opposite. I would advise you in selecting 

 your seed corn, to go by the number of kernels in length. 



Mr. Harris of New York. Will you tell me why this 

 variety (indicating) is better than this (indicating) ? 



