310 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



water required for the crop had to come from below, I began stor- 

 ing water for my breeding patch last fall. The ground had been 

 in potatoes, and I turned them out with a lister, running 

 it, perhaps, eight or nine inches deep; picked up the potaotes in 

 sight, and then harrowed twice, picking up potatoes after each 

 harrowing. Then I broke the ridges with the lister, running it 

 about two or three inches shallower than I had run it when listing 

 out the potatoes. Then I had the first and deeper hollows filled with 

 loose dirt and ready for catching and holding the water from the 

 last lister furrows. I am sure a harrowing after the last listing 

 would have been still an improvement. During the winter I spread 

 a light coating of manure over the patch. As soon as the ground 

 was in good condition in the spring I harrowed, and would harrow 

 as soon as ground was dry after rains, and on May 1st I plowed 

 as deep as I could make the plow go ; harrowed again, and my seed- 

 bed was ready, and it looked much like an onion bed after our wives 

 have been at work in the garden awhile. 



We will now go back to last fall and see about selecting the 

 seed. I took a sack on my shoulder and began the hunt for 24 ears, 

 the number I wanted for my plot. When I saw what looked promis- 

 ing in a stalk I first looked for a root system, and if I did not find 

 good brace roots I just passed on; but if good strong roots reached 

 out and to the ground I felt that a vital part was there to withstand 

 both dry weather and wind; then I examined the stalk, and if I 

 found good size to make it strong and long brood leaves to help 

 pump water from the ground, I was ready to open the husk and see 

 inside ; and if I found a well-formed ear of fair size and approach- 

 ing the requirements of a good ear, I put it in my sack, and so on 

 until I had collected, perhaps, 300 ears. I would always make some 

 mark by which I could distinguish those that come most nearly 

 reaching my ideal. Then during the entire fall and winter I kept 

 my eye open for the best I could find. I offered one man $10 for ten 

 ears, but could not buy them. I feel sure I made good wages for all 

 the time spent in selection. Having my seed ready and tested, I 

 planted on May 14 a patch on the southwest corner of the field near 

 the house. The patch was 24 hills wide and fifty-four hills long, 

 three feet 8 inches apart ; then one row or 54 hills makes one-sixtieth 

 of an acre. If possible, I would put the plot near the house and on 

 the southwest from other corn that may be near, for during the ten 

 days or two weeks in which corn will mix our winds are generally 

 from the scuth, southwest or west. Have it near the house that 

 you may get into often. I mate my ears when I plant like I would 



