88 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



each stalk, and three stalks to the square yard, so the stalks 

 or stover need not be considered at all, and only the grain 

 be taken into account. 



The method of applying the fertilizer is worth considering. 

 Being soluble and concentrated, it needs to be ultimately 

 mixed with the soil, and yet not be in excess, but be always 

 present in reach of the roots. This is secured by repeated 

 applications of portions of the fertilizer. The one hundred 

 and thirty-four bushels per acre grown by Mv. E. S. Carman 

 on Long Island was fertilized by using three hundred pounds 

 of the fertilizer harrowed in before planting, one hundred 

 pounds when the corn was six inches high, and one hundred 

 pounds when it was eighteen inches high. With my largest 

 crop the last portion was hoed in when the tassel was appear- 

 ing. This is always a desirable practice when using these 

 soluble fertilizers, because, within a few hours after applying 

 them, even the ordinary moisture of the soil is carr3dng them 

 to the roots, and the first shower tends to scatter them through 

 the soil. It is more particularly advantageous with so rank 

 and rapid a growing plant as corn. 



THE CULTIVATION OF COEN. 



For the largest yield of corn, it is desirable to keep the 

 soil stirred on the surface only, and very frequently. This 

 frequent stirring of the soil is of the greatest importance in 

 dry weather, and after every rain when the surface becomes 

 dry. I have had very many proofs of this. In growing sweet 

 corn for market, I have hastened the maturity of the crop 

 several days by weekly cultivation ; not waiting for weeds, 

 but making the stirring of the soil the sole object. Of course 

 this keeps down the weeds, if it may be so said, before they 

 have had time to grow. A few days after the corn has been 

 planted, and before it is above the ground, a slight sloj)ing- 

 tooth harrow may be run over it witli benefit, preventing 

 weeds, and hastening the appearance of the plants. This is 

 the right time to begin to push the corn ; for two days at the 

 start may save two weeks at the end of the season. But it 

 does more than hasten the growth : it invigorates it, and 

 makes strong plants. The plough should be banished from 

 cornfields : it disturbs and injures the roots. There is no 

 better implement for cultivation than the old-fashioned Share's 



