300 [Senate 



extract from tompkins county report. 



First premium of three dollars and a diploma to Elias J. Ayers, of 

 Ulysses, for the best crop of corn, not less than one acre. Mr. 

 Ayers' corn crop, for which this premium was awarded, yielded 98 

 bushels and 24 pounds by weight at 56 pounds to the bushel, per 

 acre — or 90 bushels and 24 quarts by measure. From the acre were 

 harvested 88 baskets of ears at two bushels each. Each basket of 

 ears produced one bushel and one quart of shelled corn, the weight 

 of which was 60 pounds 15 ounces to the bushel. The ground was 

 previously cropped with clover and in 1844 mowed twice, once for hay 

 and once for seed. In the fall of 1844 it was pastured, but not very 

 close. In the spring of 1845 thirty loads of long barnyard manure were 

 carefully spread over the surface and plowed under with the sward, 

 rolled and harrowed. Four rows were then marked lengthwise with 

 the plowing three feet nine inches apart. The corn was dropped in 

 those rows, three kernels in a place, 12 inches apart. One load of 

 compost, consisting of 20 bushels of well rotted and pulverized barn- 

 yard manure, mixed with one and a half bushels of leached ashes 

 and a half bushel slacked lime and a composition of eight quarts of 

 plaster (gypsum) to two quarts of common salt, was then drawn 

 along side of the four rows, and a shovel full thereof put upon from 

 three to four hills and thus continued until the four rows were cov- 

 ered. The ground for four more rows was then harrowed to loosen 

 the same, marked, dropped and covered as before and so on until the 

 acre was covered ; which completed the planting. Twelve loads of 

 compost were put upon the acre. When the corn had come up a 

 light harrow was run over between the rows ; after which the culti- 

 vator was run three times through and the corn hand hoed : the two 

 bushels of plaster were sown broadcast. The seed. was the Dutton 

 corn, mostly 12 but some S-rowed, selected and planted the second 

 and third of May. The crop was cut up at the ground about the 

 20th Sept. The cost of the crop including for all labor, team work, 

 and manure, &c. and including six dollars for use of the land amounted 

 to thirty-two dollars and seventy cents. The proceeds including 

 two dollars, for stalks amounts to fifty dollars. Showing a nett pro- 

 fit of seventeen dollars and thirty cents in one year from one acre of 

 ground after paying an interest of six per cent upon its cost at one 

 hundred dollars per acre. 



EXTRACTS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY REPORT. 



CALVIN SKINNER. 



The sample of corn was raised the present season, on my farm, and 

 was taken from an acre, measured, and the baskets of ears accurately 

 counted. 



Number of baskets, 222 



Quantity of shelled corn in each, Idqts. 



?'Ji-,l:in'Torshr'if^^] mm , ISl^bus. 



