INDIAN CORN. 241 



of corn on an acre in this cold climate ; but in this we hope to 

 dissipate all doubts. 



Your committee take the liberty to express the opinion that 

 Indian corn is the most important crop in this region. We 

 have often heard it remarked, that the hay crop is the most 

 important crop in this vicinity ; now, when we take into consid- 

 eration that the husks and stalks on an average acre of corn, are 

 as valuable as an average acre of grass or hay, for food for neat 

 stock, which, we believe, is conceded on all hands ; and, taking 

 into consideration that the cultivated grasses will succeed better 

 after the corn crop than after any other cultivated crop, and 

 that there is more nutriment in corn than in any other culti- 

 vated crop, we come to the conclusion that Indian corn takes 

 the lead of all cultivated crops in this vicinity. 



Agricultural societies will award as large a premium on one 

 animal as on an acre of corn, when it is the corn that produces 

 that symmetry and outward sleekness of the animal that renders 

 it worthy of a premium ; for there are properties in Indian corn 

 that give nourishment to every part of the animal system — 

 bone, sinew, muscle, and nerve to the brain, and even to the 

 hair. 



Your committee have thoroughly examined every claimant's 

 field of corn, measured off one average rod of the half acre, and 

 saw the corn harvested, shelled, and measured as accurately as 

 though buying or selling, and at a time when the corn was dry 

 enough to crib or grind. 



How much corn will shrink, between the harvesting and the 

 next seed time, it is not given us to decide. For ourselves, we 

 believe the shrinkage is greater than is generally supposed. 



Your committee have awarded premiums to those gentlemen 

 whose statement are appended to this report. 



Alpheus Spaulding, Chairman. 

 Chelmsford, November 15, 1856. 



Statement of Lewis H. Hildreth. 



The half acre of corn which I olFer for premium, was planted 

 the 4th day of June, on land which was in carrots last year. 

 October 1st, I gathered one square rod, in presence of one of 



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