EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART X. 565 



sequent cultivation accounts in part for this very satisfactory yield. Mr. 

 Howe's cornfields in July of this year were the cleanest the writer has 

 ever seen. In preparing the land for corn sometimes one and sometimes 

 the other of the two methods described below is followed, depending on 

 the condition of the soil: 



First Method. — Disk, lapping one-half; harrow; disk and harrow again 

 in the same manner; repeat if there is time to do so. 



Second Method. — Disk, lapping one-half; break with ordinary turning 

 plow, then harrow twice before planting. 



Cultivation. — The following is as outline of the subsequent tillage; 

 harrow after planting, before the corn is up. After the corn is up, go 

 over the land with a rotary hoe; then cultivate twice with rear shovels 

 next the row and once with front shovels next the row. After this, culti- 

 vate between the rows with a one-horse cultivator at intervals of about 

 two weeks till the first week in August. The cultivation should be 

 shallow, so as not to disturb the roots of the corn. If any weeds survive 

 this treatment they are removed with a hand hoe. 



Breeding Seed Corn. — The most careful methods of breeding seed corn 

 are practiced. In the breeding plat every alternate row is detasseled 

 to insure cross-pollination. This insures seed of high vitality on the de- 

 tassled stalks. Each year the choicest plants are selected for planting 

 the breeding plat the next year. 



FEEDING VALUE OF EACH CEOP. 



Mr. Rowe believes that when fed without waste a bushel of corn will 

 produce 10 pounds of increase in live weight in hogs; an acre of clover, 

 400 pounds; and an acre of soy beans, 600 pounds. This agrees fairly 

 well with the best estimates that can be made from the data given above as 

 to the amount of grain fed, as may be seen from what follows: 



Grain and mill feed used annually: Pounds. 



15 litters, 6J months during summer (estimated 7 pounds a day per litter) 20,790 



120 pigs, 5J mouths during winter, at 5 pounds per day 100,200 



130 yearlings, 120 days during summer, at 3J pounds per day 50,000 



Total grain and mill feed 170,990 



Estimated production of pork: 



170,990 pounds of corn equals 3,050 bushels, which, as 10 pounds of pork 



per bushel, would produce 30,530 



18i acres of clover,* at 400 pounds of pork per acre, would produce 7,400 



4 acres of soy beans, at 600 pounds of pork per acre 2,400 



Total estimated production of pork 40,330 



Actual results in pork: 



120 hogs, averaging 337 pounds 40,440 



Difference in favor of actual results 110 



The actual results are seen to differ only one-fourth of 1 per cent from 

 the estimated total product. This shows that Mr. Rowe's estimates of the 

 feeding value of these crops is very accurate. 



PROPOSED CHANGE IN CROPPING SYSTEM. 



It has already been stated that oats are not a satisfactory crop on this 

 farm. In a recent letter the owner says: "We think now we shall change 



•From the 20 acres of clover 1^ is deducted for the 15 sows which made no gain. 



