THE GROWING OF CORN. 97 



corn, and Sturtevant Brothers thirteen bushels and a half 

 shelled corn, gross yield. Each cord of dung used by INIr. 

 Manson gave nine bushels shelled corn, gross yield. 



We further note a wide variation in the yield of stover. 

 Mr. Bowditch's stover was determined by weighing, and 

 then allowing for the probable moisture. Sturtevant Broth- 

 ers' was obtained by estimate, — a hundred pounds of fodder 

 to the bushel of shelled corn, the odd figures being thrown 

 against the crop. Mr. Manson's figures are an estimate of 

 tops, etc., removed. I cannot but tliink that the figures are 

 practically correct, and probably rather under than over the 

 actual amounts harvested. As a rule, the stover is decreased 

 with increase of grain-yield, and large j-ielding fields show 

 less stover per bushel of grain than do fields of small yield. 



If there is one point which is prominently emphasized to 

 those who know the conditions under which these three 

 crops are grown, it is that of the great efficacy of cultiva- 

 tion. I have never seen severer root-pruning than was 

 accomplished by Mr. Bowditch. Sturtevant Brothers' field 

 had less, and Mr. Manson's still less. The amount of fer- 

 tilizing material applied was greatest in the case of the 

 smallest crop ; the amount of cultivation, and its severity, 

 so to speak, the greatest in the field of the largest yield. 

 Indeed, these three crops all bear out the statements and 

 reasonings given in this paper. 



Question. In estimating the worth of your crop, you 

 take into account the fodder, do you not? Can you raise 

 corn, throwing away the fodder, as cheap as the Western 

 farmer ? 



Dr. Sturtevant. There is a great misapprehension in 

 regard to the value of corn-fodder. What do you want to 

 throw away the fodder for? You might just as well ask the 

 Western farmer to throw away half his crops, so as to reduce 

 the average. The value of corn-stubble seems to depend a 

 great deal upon the circumstances of its preparation. If cut 

 early, and put under cover before it is washed by the rains 

 after it is cut, it is really of great value. I value corn- 

 stubble, by actual experiment on a large scale, when it is put 

 in in the way I speak of, as equal to six-tenths the price of 

 hay. In other words, when we can sell our hay, as 1 have, 



