DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETINGS. 233 



the crop and the harvesting of the same. In the discussion of 

 this problem, three specific divisions confront us: Groviring 

 corn for grain, growing corn for ensilage, and grooving corn 

 for canning purposes. 



To avoid confusion, I v^ill discuss these in three separate 

 divisions. 



I. Growing the corn for grain. We recognize the fact that 

 our seasons are short, that the crop growing period is limited 

 and that we must get our corn into the ground at the earliest 

 date upon which the soil will permit. Therefore, the more 

 preparations that can be made for the com crop in the fall 

 preceding, the better we will be prepared for our spring work 

 in order to secure early planting. Many men are successful in 

 using sod land, that has been thoroughly covered with stable 

 dressing since the preceding hay harvest, and which has been 

 allowed to remain in this condition for a period of time suf- 

 ficient for the development of the second crop after the appli- 

 cation of the manure. The soluble portion of the stable dress- 

 ing is taken up by the roots of the growing plant, which ac- 

 cumulate food material in the plants themselves and conserve 

 much that might be wasted under other conditions. The 

 coarser part is then turned under with the second growth of 

 grass that has been procured, in this way increasing the organic 

 material that is so necessary for the development of good crops. 



In case the land is infested with witch grass, thorough and 

 repeated harrowing with the disc or spring-tooth harrow should 

 be given, before the land is frozen. The freezing and thawing 

 throughout the winter will have a beneficial effect upon the 

 soil, particularly if it is a clay soil, by breaking up and fitting 

 it for a better seed bed. As soon as the soil is in condition in 

 the spring, it should be thoroughly worked up and pulverized, 

 with whatever implements are necessary to bring about the 

 best results. The disc, followed by the spring-tooth and later 

 by the smoothing harrow, usually brings about good conditions. 

 In planting, there should be applied about four hundred and 

 fifty pounds of the fertilizer, running something like a 5-8-7; 

 800 to 1,000 pounds are sometimes used for sweet corn. If 

 the dressing has been quite heavily applied, a reduction to three 

 per cent in the ammonia might serve the purpose. I would 

 suggest that part of the nitrogen be in the form of tankage. 



