FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 377 



would be advisable to plant. Phuitiiig should commence as early as tlie season 

 ■will permit. Better to plant a little too soon tlian too late. Planting sliould 

 be finished by the twentieth at farthest. Cultivation should commence as soon 

 as the corn comes up, or sooner will be better. The weeds should be destroyed 

 as soon ;is they make tlieir appearance. The best implement for the llrst cul- 

 tivation is line-toothed harrow. Twice going over with it will elTectually sub- 

 due the weeds, thoroughly pulverize the surface, and put it in the best possible 

 condition for the cultivator. Eight or ten acres per day can easily be gone 

 over with such an implement. 'Ihe cultivation should be continued once a 

 Aveek until the tassels appear, when it should not be disturbed unless circum- 

 stances should make it necessary, such as a very heavy fall of rain just after 

 the last cultivation and before the roots of the corn have expanded so far as to 

 be much injured. Cultivation after that time of its growth does more injury 

 than good. The double-shovel plow comes the nearest suiting my idea of u 

 corn cultivator of anything I have ever tried, when in skillful hands, although 

 I have no very serious objections to the double cultivator when properly 

 handled, until the corn gets too tall for it to pass over it. If the cultivation 

 has been timely and properly done where the land is sufficiently free from ob- 

 struction, there will be no necessity for hoeing the crop. I believe in as nearly 

 level cultivation as possible, ridging it up only sufficient to cover the small 

 weeds in the hill. The roots will find the proper depth for the healthiest 

 growth if left to themselves. I think ridging up or hilling up with the hoe 

 retarding instead of facilitating its growth. 



Harvesting the crop, I think, is of sufficient importance to be considered in 

 this discussion. A very common way, although I think not the best way, is to 

 let the corn stand until it is sufficiently dry and then husk and crib it, letting 

 the stalks stand in the field and pasture them through the fall and winter 

 with stock. This I consider the least expensive way of harvesting. 



The next and better way is to cut the corn up at the root and shock it in 

 good order, say sixty-four hills to the shock, and when sufficiently dry, husk 

 and bind the fodder and put three shocks in one, firmly tie tlie tops with twine 

 and leave in the field until wanted for use. It will cost about one dollar per 

 acre to cut and shock the corn, and one dollar extra per acre for husking, 

 which makes the fodder cost about two dollars per acre. But it is worth as 

 much as a ton of good hay, which I think will repay the extra cost. The third 

 and most economical way is to top the corn by cutting off above the ear and 

 binding in suitable sized bundles, shock it up and let it stand until well cured, 

 then draw to the barn or stack where wanted. This should be done before 

 husking, and wiiile it is in the best condition. Fodder thus saved is the best 

 feed for milch cows, cals'es and sheep, that I ever tried. The corn siiould 

 be topped as soon as sufficiently ripe not to shrink the grain. Tiiis mode 

 secures the best part of the fodder, and leaves the bulk of the stalks on the 

 field with little else except the husk of any value as feed. It saves a vast 

 amount handling of worthless material. Cattle during the winter will eat all 

 the husks and strip the stalks cleaner than if cut and fed to them ; so there 

 is nothing wasted. It also facilitates liusking, I think, by exposing the ears 

 to view, and no stalks to hinder pitching it into the wagon. It costs about the 

 same to top it as it would to cut up at the root, but the saving of time in 

 busking I think is at least one dollar i)er acre. When the corn is sufficiently 

 dry it sliould be husked and cribbed, which it can be very rapidly and cheaply. 

 A man can husk and crib two-thirds of an acre or forty bushels per day. Corn 



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