250 BOARD OF AGRlCULTrRK. 



of barn manure has liocn made we never liave l^een able, in the ap- 

 plication of any of tlie nitrates to get au increase in yield commen- 

 surate with the expense. But in all cases on our own lands, whether 

 Willi or without barn manure, we have found an ai)plication of potash 

 and phosphoric acid attended with satisfactory results. And on ac- 

 count of the habits of the plant to which allusion has been made, these 

 elements may lie applied more cheapl}' in a raw or crude state than 

 in the form of a superphosphate ; and perhaps the common farmer 

 cannot apply these elements in any cheaper or more available form 

 than in [)uie ])one (fine ground) and a high grade muriate of potash. 

 These elements can be very easily and quickh* applied by almost any 

 of the fertilizer spreaders in the market in quantities to meet the de- 

 mauds of the soil and circumstances of the farmer. This should be 

 harrowed in lightl}' with a smoothing harrow, and when the apple 

 trees are in blossom the field will be ready to receive the seed. Be- 

 fore planting we mark in rows three and one-half feet apart each 

 way, and it is quite essential the rows should be straight, otherwise the 

 cost of cultivation will be iucreased. The marking is done with a 

 quick-walking horse attached to a rude and cheaply constructed gig. 

 Au old iron axletree was found that fitted my buggy wheels and we 

 had it cut and welded, allowing the wheels to run the required dis- 

 tance apart. Through this holes were punched and hickor}' stock 

 and shafts were bolted on. The seat was taken from a horse rake. 

 Truly, we had a gig It marks two rows at a time and we have only 

 one wheel to keep in line. A fast walking horse will mark ten acres 

 both ways in a da3\ The corn is planted with the little Automatic 

 Corn Planter, with which a man can readih' plant five acres in a da}'. 

 Immediately after planting the field should be run over with the 

 smoothing harrow, that the birds may not find the corn before it ger- 

 minates, and crow lines should be strung thickly over the field at 

 sutlicient height to admit of a team passing under. As soon as the 

 corn has developed the third leaf we go through the field with the 

 corn planter and plant over all njissing hills or where there are not 

 more than two plants, and when it is five or six inches in height, we 

 go through and thin out to four plants in the hill. This should not 

 be done, however, until the cut worm and other enemies of the young 

 plant have suspended operations. The field should be thoroughly 

 harrowed with the smoothing harrow once each week until the 

 corn is five or six inches tall, after which the horse hoe may be in- 

 troduced and run one way through the field each week, alternating 



