INDIAN CORN. 165 



tcr part of tlic piece, and in comparing different pieces, to give, 

 of course, evenness due consideration. 



Wc have picked this rod, husked it handsomely and weighed 

 it accurately, as truly so as if we were selling or buying. How 

 much this corn would shrink, how much any grain or roots will 

 shrink between harvest and the other side of a cold winter is 

 not given us to decide. For ourselves, we believe the shrink- 

 age is twice as great as is generally supposed, but this is not 

 the question. That it will shrink, every person ought to know, 

 and they are at liberty to make any allowance deemed just. In 

 grain we made no measurement. Some results were reported 

 to us after our awards were made, by men in whom the world 

 put full confidence on all other subjects ; why should they not 

 on this ? 



Of the three-acre pieces of corn, that of Mr. Sears, of Lenox, 

 was eight-roWed and very dry ; forty-two hills to the rod, yield- 

 ing sixty pounds. The ground of Mr. Belden, of Lenox, was 

 sward land, ploughed in the fall; twenty-five loads of compost, 

 two parts muck and one manure, harrowed in ; thirty-five hills 

 to the rod and fifty-six pounds. 



Of the one-acre pieces there were thirty-four entries. 



Mr. Shepardson, of Lanesboro', showed us corn ground thor- 

 oughly tilled and heavily manured. Twelve-rowed corn, planted 

 closely. The rod gave seventy-eight pounds. 



The ground of Mr. Hinkley, of Lee, was ploughed once last 

 year, received fifteen loads of long manure and gave forty 

 bushels of corn. This season twenty loads of long manure were 

 ploughed in seven inches, and fifteen loads of compost harrowed 

 in; four bushels of ashes and plaster applied to the field after 

 first hoeing; corn, twelve-rowed, white and yellow mixed, plant- 

 ed 18th and 19th of May, four kernels in hill, hills three feet 

 by two and one-half, and cultivated twice and hoed twice, hills 

 raised very little. The rod gave sixty-nine pounds. 



The ground of Mr. Smith, of Lee, was sward ; forty ox-cart 

 loads of manure from the barnj-ards and pig-pen were ploughed 

 in, eight inches deep, in April, harrowed thoroughly. Planted, 

 14tli of May, with Vermont Button corn, hills three feet by 

 two and a half, and cultivated, four stalks left in a hill ; hoed 

 three times, raising hills but very little. A handful of a mixture. 



