FAKMEES' INSTITUTES. 1G3 



Mr. Hayden. — Of course Tve caunot lay dovrn any rule that will apply to every 

 ■season, but I believe that, taking one season with another, it is best to defer 

 your planting until about May 20. I have noticed some seasons, in my own 

 field, where I have planted both early and late, there was no ^perceptible differ- 

 ence in the ripening of the crop. I have seen no difference wlicre there was 

 three weeks' difference in the time of planting. 



J. K. Hendryx. — I have been very successful in raising corn, and I plow as 

 early as I can, let my ground lie up to the sun for a few days, and plant early. 



Prof. Fairchild. — Of course the time for planting corn must vary in various 

 parts of the State, as the season is much earlier in tlie southern counties than it 

 is in the more northern ones. In the northern part of the State, in order to 

 have it ripen, it should be planted just as early as the ground can bo prepared 

 for it. 



Mr. Beckwith. — This matter of putting corn into the ground is one of great 

 importance. I believe the ground should be plowed in the spring, just as soon 

 as it gets into condition, after you have sowed your oats. I take great pains to 

 have the ground nicely turned over, and then if the ground is tolerably dry, put 

 on the roller, and then go over with the drag until it is perfectly mellow on top. 

 After it conies up I go on with the drag, and run right over it. After it gets up 

 a few inches I go through witli the double shovel. The gentleman speaks of 

 the large two-horse cultivator, but I can tend corn a great deal better with the 

 double shovel and a good careful man than any other way. I have one of the 

 large cultivators, which I have used some, but I prefer the double shovel. So 

 far as 2:)lastering corn is concerned, almost the first work I ever did was putting 

 plaster on corn in the State of xsew York. I have plastered corn generally ever 

 since, and I don't believe that plaster ever added a single grain of corn to any 

 man's crop. The real effects from the use of plaster is by seeding and using it 

 •on your grass crop, and then turning under to enrich your soil. Now one word 

 •about seed corn. Some gentleman says, "^jjlant a little more than you need." 

 Isovr, any one who follows my instructions will be sure to have his corn grow: 

 Pick your seed corn early in the fall, carry it into your house, and j)ut it up 

 •over the kitchen, or some place where it will not be affected by frost, and there 

 will be no complaint about poor seed corn. 



Mr. Curry. — As Mr. Beckwith has said, seed corn placed in a warm room 

 TFliere it will not be subject to frost, will invariably grow. In Kentucky, Ten- 

 nessee, and Alabama they never have any trouble in having their seed corn 

 grow, and the simple explanation is that the corn gets thoroughly ripe and dry, 

 and the germ is not affected by the frost. In 1873 my brother and I put a 

 portion of our seed corn over the kitchen stove, and a portion we took from the 

 crib. That which we carried into the house all grew, vv'hile that we took from 

 the crib refused to grow, and we were at an expense of about §25, when two 

 liours' work might have saved all this expense. 



Mr. Curry. — In Northern Indiana the farmers invariably liarrow their corn 

 before it comes up. They claim that the crop is nearly half tended by this 

 harrowing, 



Mr. Beckwith. — I want my ground perfectly level before I plant. After I 

 plant I wait until the weeds begin to start, when I put on the harrow to kill 

 them. But as regards the crop being half tended I don't believe in that, for it 

 takes more than one or two draggings to half tend a piece of corn. 



Mr. Morton. — The subject of deep or shallow culture has not been broached 

 xipon. 



