164 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



corn successfully. About one-half of the piece was ploughed 

 eight years ago, and has been in sward since, the low, wet part 

 where grew skunk cabbage and bulrushes, I underdraincd in 

 1857. Ploughed the land November 5th, 1857, with a Michigan 

 plough, nine inches deep; the manure used was bought at 

 stables in the village, carted last fall, piled up on the lot and 

 covered with soil. 



In the spring harrowed the ground, spread on the manure 

 and cross-ploughed it in with horse-plough, not disturbing the 

 sod more than could be avoided, and harrowed it again ; fur- 

 rowed the ground both ways, rows three and a half feet apart 

 one way, two feet apart the other way ; put a small quantity 

 of good, fine compost in each hill ; in all ten horse loads. 

 May 20th, planted the smutty white corn, called Bryant's 

 improved Webster corn, obtained of Dion Bryant, who for 

 twelve years past has selected his seed from the earliest and 

 ripest ears in the field, used seed from middle of the ears, 

 rejecting the two ends ; carefully planting six kernels in a hill, 

 about two inches apart. Hoed the corn three times, first and 

 second hoeing used a cultivator, third hoeing used a plough ; the 

 corn came up well, scarcely a kernel missing. At second hoe- 

 ing thinned it out, leaving four plants in a hill ; the stalks were 

 cut about the 10th of September. October 9th, Mr. Howland 

 (the supervisor) selected two parcels of one square rod each, 

 in different parts of the field, as an average, harvested and 

 weighed, as follows: — 



One rod weighed 56* pounds, one rod 61| pounds — 118 

 pounds. Making 2| bushel baskets of ears. 



From October 18th to October 22d harvested the balance, 

 which weighed 8,400 pounds, and measured 197 bushel baskets. 

 "Whole acre weighing 8,518| pounds, and measuring 199| 

 baskets. 



This corn upon the 158 rods was put into a crib built out 

 doors, sixteen feet long, three feet wide at bottom, four feet 

 wide at top, made of fence picks seven feet long, three inches 

 wide, put on three-quarters of an inch apart. 



The corn raised on two square rods was taken by Mr. How- 

 land to Abington, and January, 1859, was shelled and weighed 

 by him. 



Weight of corn, 77 pounds; cobs, 15 pounds — 92 pounds. 



