416 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



crops. I use sod ground for corn and fit and plant as soon after plowing as I 

 can. 



Seed corn should be selected either before or at the time of husking, thor- 

 oughly dried and kept in a dry place until wanted. 



I plant with the common grain drill, using two hoes, and planting the rows 

 about four feet apart. Make the rows run north and south if the field is 

 square, if not, then the longest way of the field, leaving six or eight feet at 

 the ends not planted to turn around on after cultivation. Immediately 

 after planting I roll the ground to press the soil to the seed. Just before 

 the corn comes up I drag it thoroughly lengthwise of the rows with 

 the Thomas or slanting-toothed harrow, and cross it with the same about a 

 week after. If the weather is not favorable to the growth of corn or if worms 

 are disturbing it, I can drag it again to good advantage. Then I cultivate 

 about once a week until it gets too large to pass over it with the two-horse 

 cultivator or spring-tooth harrow, taking out middle teeth and letting the 

 horses walk astride of the row. This frequent cultivation is very important 

 as it keeps the ground more moist, and the weeds are much more easily killed 

 just before or as soon as they make the least appearance than they are if 

 allowed to get a vigorous start before they are molested. And I find the crop 

 is wonderfully benefited by working the soil as soon after showers as it 

 becomes dry enough, but serious damage is done both to the crop and the soil 

 if worked too wet. 



I have found that the large Dent corn does not do as well planted in this 

 way as the smaller kinds, and if so planted, must be much thinner. I use 

 about twice as much seed as I did when planting in the ordinary way. 



About the middle of August I sow rye in the corn for fall, winter and 

 early spring feed, and I think it a good thing. 



My corn harrow is about ten feet wide and one can drag twenty acres in a 

 day without trouble, and a man will cultivate with the cultivator or spring- 

 toothed harrow eight or ten acres a day throughly. 



If now I can cut my corn up in the fall with the binder, as some farmers 

 claim to have successfully done, and thresh it with the threshing machine, 

 delivering the clean shelled corn in the half bushel, and the stalks in the 

 mow, all crushed and torn in shreds, ready to be mixed with the meal, I shall 

 feel that the production of this, the most important product of our industries, 

 is no serious matter. 



SORGHUM AS A SUGAR PRODUCING PLANT. 



(ABSTRACT.) 



« 



BY PKOF. H. W. WILEY, CHEMIST OF U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

 [From tlie Proceedings of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science.] 



The problem of the possible profitable production of sugar from sorghum 

 has occupied the attention of chemists, agronomists and manufacturers for 

 thirty years. I have thought I could not make a more useful contribution 

 to the proceedings of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science 



