216 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 
removing the tassels was by giving them an 
upward pull by hand, which caused the stalk 
to break off above the upper joint without in- 
juring the leaves at all. 
Cost of growing a crop.—Much has been 
published in the agricultural press on the cost 
of growing a crop or acre of Indian corn. Of 
course, as might be expected, there 15 a great 
diversity of opinion on this subject. Many 
statements have been printed and often these 
have been quite imperfect in detail. No inter- 
est may be allowed on money invested in land, 
tools, buildings; no account is taken of taxes 
and loss of soil fertility in many instances, yet 
all these facts bear on the cost of producing 
the crop. Says Sanborn:* 
‘‘We wish to repeat again, what we in effect have already 
said, that we have not seen by any writer a fair statement of 
the cost of acrop. Such cost must include something of the 
manager’s time, something for the use of machinery and its 
breakages, something of the time lost in purchase and sales, 
and loss of time in dull weather and winters. <A true calcula- 
tion will add, probably, at least 25 per cent to the apparent 
cost.” 
The following figures bearing on the cost 
question are from some of the most complete 
statements secured by the writer. These are 
given simply as evidence along a line in which 
the corn-grower takes much interest. None of 
the figures are really conclusive, but are more 
or less interesting and suggestive. 
* Mirror and Farmer, Dec. 6, 1894. 
