THE INDIAN-CORN CROP. 37 



Objection is there made to cutting off the tops while they 

 are green as being injurious as stated above, which seems 

 most reasonable ; but, after the corn-crop has turned brown, 

 I can see no harm in taking off the tops, and the ears do not 

 seem to be well glazed until the stalks have begun to turn 

 brown. My reasons for topping corn are, that I can dry that 

 part more readily, and because I have a sufficient quantity of 

 tops not to need the butts, which I have no good market for, 

 and because I believe it is best for me to cut the butts into 

 short pieces with a hay-cutter, and use them for bedding, on 

 their way to increase my manure-heap. 



"West Peabodt, September, 1879. 



WORCESTER SOUTH-EAST. 

 [Statement of J. D. Hunt of Milford.] 



The corn was raised on a hundred and fifty-four square 

 rods of land. It bore a hay-crop for the last seven years. 

 No manure has been applied to the land for four years. The 

 soil is a light loam with clay or hard bottom. Three cords 

 of neat-stock manure were spread on the land previous to 

 ploughing the first time. It was ploughed the first time Oct. 

 25 and 26, 1878. May 20, 1879, I harrowed the land, and 

 May 25 ploughed a second time. The land was ploughed 

 each time about six inches deep. May 26 it was harrowed 

 again. May 27 it was furrowed both ways, three feet four 

 inches wide, and about six inches deep. It was manured in 

 the hill with three cords of neat-stock manure from the barn- 

 cellar, and worked over once, beside carting, making six 

 cords of manure applied to the piece of land. The corn was 

 planted, May 29 and 30, with ten quarts of corn, yellow seed, 

 small cob, large kernel. 



The following is the cost of the field of corn: — 



Ploughing first time $5 00 



Harrowing first time 3 00 



Ploughing second time 4 25 



Harrrowing second time 2 00 



Furrowing ••>••••••• 2 50 



Manuring in the hill 3 50 



Planting corn .......... 3 50 



