262 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



My manner of growing and curing the crop is simply this: 



Early in the season, say from the lUtli to the 20th of May, I have my ground 

 ready to plant. Pulverize the soil -well by harrowing; mark out in straight 

 rows 3i- feet apart, and with a corn planter drop from 7 to 10 grains in each 

 hill, one foot apart. As soon as it is up nicely I put my 40-toothed harrow into 

 the field lengthwise of the rows, and harrow it well. This kills all small weeds, 

 stirs the ground, and produces a vigorous growth. When six inches high I go 

 through with a cultivator, and continue this at intervals until the crop shades 

 the ground. 



The growth of stalks will be slender and about five and one-half to seven 

 feet, average heighth. 



The variety I raise is dent; have raised flint and sweet com; but everything 

 considered prefer tlic dent corn. Planted early, it matures early; and the last 

 week in August, or when the small ears (for there will be some) are fit to boil 

 for green corn, put in the corn cutter and shock it \\p in large shock, tying the 

 tops securely, and your labor is completed until October ; then it will be suffi- 

 ciently cured ; take down your shock, bind in four or five bundles, and haul to 

 the barn and put in bulk. It is cured green, fresh, and nutritious, and it is all 

 greedily devoured by stock. I am wintering eighteen head of cattle and horses 

 this winter on such fodder, and I would not exchange it ton for ton for clover 

 hay. The best results will be attained by planting early on good land and 

 keeping the crop clean by frequent cultivation. 



By this means small farms may be enabled to raise more forage, winter more 

 stock, lengthen out the short pasturage of the fall months, and have their 

 stock go into winter quarters in a thriving, healthy condition, and with proper 

 care they will never show the change from the field to the stable, but continue 

 to thrive and increase, with comfort to themselves and pride and profit to the 

 farmer. 



The excessive drain on the soil of our State from its early settlement to the 

 present has had such a telling effect on our farms that many have come to the 

 conclusion that in order to succeed the number of acres must be increased to 

 produce anything like paying results ; when the truth is, less land and better 

 farming, the api)lication of manure and stimulants to restore the soil to its 

 primitive state, is the only key to success. To provide this we must neces- 

 sarily keep stock to supply manure. 



Economy suggests that such crops as produce tlio best results at the least 

 expense, the most food on the least number of acres, will be found the most 

 profitable to all classes of farmers, more especially to those on small farms. 

 With very little grain and a few roots I have been able to feed 18 head of 

 stock, keep them in good, thriving condition 3^ months on four acrccs of fodder 

 corn, fed in the usual manner. I am satisfied had I been enabled to cut the 

 fodder fine, steam or cook the same with a little extra care, I could have 

 lengthened the time at least another month. Taking the average croj) of 

 clover hay, it would have taken the crop of twice the number of acres to pro- 

 duce the same amount of forage, and I question whether the result would have 

 been as satisfactory. 



Does not economy suggest to the small farmer the advnntago of wintering a 

 much larger stock than he can pasture during the summer? With grain, roots, 

 and corn fodder may he not be able to send to the market his surplus beef cat- 

 tle in the spring at an increased valuation sufficient to cover cost of grain, roots, 

 fodder, and care, at least leaving the manure heap as his interest on capital 



