CHEAP CORN. 253 



just what it has taken from the soil, as near as we can ascertain, 

 rather than what we have put upon the soil, whether plant food or 

 something else? 



If we have producer! 50 bushels shelled corn and its stover, chem- 

 ists tell us we have carried off phosphoric acid 31 pounds, and this 

 element is worth in the market 9 cents per pound, 82.79 ; also 77 

 pounds potash at 4 J cents, $3.47 ; and 64 pounds nitrogen at 17- 

 cents, $10.88. That a certain portion of this nitrogen came from 

 the soil, there can be no doubt ; also it has been proved that corn, in 

 common with some other plants, draws this element from other sources 

 than the soil. So, just what proportion of this nitrogen has been 

 taken from our acre and must be returned to maintain the fertility, 

 we must confess we are at a loss to tell, and that we ma}' surely be 

 on the safe side we charged the whole to the crop, although we re- 

 peat that upon our own farm for^^ears no nitrogen, as such, has been 

 applied for the production of corn. It will be observed, however, 

 that, in the application of ground bone and barnyard manure, a cer- 

 tain amount of this element has been added to the soil, which thus 

 far has seemed to meet all demands. Now, as we have given the 

 estimate of expense in detail for the production of fifty bushels of 

 corn on an acre, where large fields are cultivated, and as we believe 

 the most economical methods were pursued, let us recapitulate : 



Plowing 81 75 



Harrowing seven times 2 00 



Application of fertilizer 35 



Marking for planting 25 



Planting twice 45 



Seed 20 



Crow lines and labor 20 



Thinning out 50 



Horse hoeing four times 1 40 



Stocking 3 00* 



Carting 1 00- 



Husking 5 00 



Interest and taxes 3 00' 



Fertilizer 17 14 



Total expense $36 04 



Cr. by two tons stover at $10 20 00 



Total cost per acre $ 16 04 



Cost per bushel 32 



