GRAIN CROPS. 225 



The question has again and again been discussed at farmers' 

 clubs and elsewhere, in regard to the quantity of seed to be 

 sown or planted, upon a given quantity of ground. But after 

 all, every farmer must be his own judge, as it depends upon 

 many circumstances, such as the kind of soil, its tilth, pulveriza- 

 tion, &c, and again, the quality of the seed. When the seeds 

 are plump and healthy, and the soil well ploughed and well pre- 

 pared otherwise, a much less amount of seed should be used ; as 

 we notice in two of the competitors in growing corn the present 

 year, while the competitor having the greater yield had the less 

 number of hills per rod, or as nine to fourteen, the competitor 

 having the greater amount of corn estimates the stover at about 

 two tons, while the other judges he has from four to five ; so that 

 the gain of the one, or the loss of the other, is not so great as at 

 first appears. 



Eph'm Graham, Chairman. 



Statement of Luther Page. 



Corn. — The crop of the field on which my corn was raised 

 was grass in 1869, with no manure. The land was ploughed in 

 1869 six inches deep, and planted to corn in 1870, with fifteen 

 loads of good compost manure to the acre. The surface soil is 

 mostly yellow loam, with clay subsoil. 



It was ploughed once this spring, six inches deep, well har- 

 rowed, and furrowed three feet apart, one way only. The cost 

 of ploughing and other preparation was $7.50. Fifteen cords 

 of good compost were spread, and a small handful of phosphate 

 was put in each hill. The value of the manure for both seasons 

 was $75. Planted by hand, from the middle to the last of 

 May, with Carter and Groton eight-rowed yellow corn. The 

 cost of seed and planting was $3.50. It was worked with cul- 

 tivator twice, at a cost, including weeding and thinning, of 

 $9.75. The most of the crop was cut and stooked, the remainder 

 topped about September 8th to 10th. Cost of harvesting, storing 

 and husking, $9. 



Statement of Cyrus Kilburn. 

 Wheat. — The soil of the acre upon which my wheat was 

 raised, is a clayey loam. The crop in 1869 was grass, to which 



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