78 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Robinson would not follow the almanac in corn planting. 

 The old Indian rule was a much better guide, to plant corn when- 

 ever the leaves of the oak tree in that neighborhood are of the 

 size of a squirrel's ear. When the oak leaves have made a fair 

 start it indicates that the condition of the earth and atmosphere 

 are sufficiently advanced for the planting of corn. Sometimes 

 that will be the 15th of May; sometimes not until the 10th of 

 June. He had heard Judge Meigs frequently remark that the 

 oak tree was more infallible than the almanac maker. 



Dr. Trimble stated, another good rule to be, to plant when 

 the blossoms of the dogwood are fully expanded, perfectly white, 

 and beginning to drop off. The depth to plant depends upon the 

 season. Early in the season, or in moist weather, we may cover 

 lightly ; later, especially if it is dry, we must cover deeper, in 

 order that the corn may be surrounded with the moisture neces- 

 sary for its germination. 



Mr. Robinson. — The proper time to cultivate corn is before it 

 is planted, by preparing the ground thoroughly. The suggestion 

 of Dr. Trimble he approved. He would spread the manure 

 intended for the corn upon the grass, and let it lie until planting 

 time, and then turn the sod over from five to eight inches, run- 

 ning the subsoil plow as deeply as possible in the bottom of each 

 furrow, and then harrow the ground thoroughly. If the ground 

 has been previously subsoiled, and will bear to be turned up with 

 the Michigan plow, there will be no occasion for harrowing. Then 

 the after cultivation will be to go over the ground with the horse- 

 hoe to keep the surface mellow, and the crop is certain. 



Prof. Nash stated the results of experiments in plowing ma- 

 nures under, showing that upon sandy soil, where the manure 

 was plowed in four inches deep, the product was greatest. Upon a 

 retentive soil the depth should be less ; a single inch may be 

 sufficient. If the manure is sufficiently near the surface to receive 

 the proper warmth and moisture, it is readily decomposed. If 

 plowed under to the depth of eight inches it will be decomposed 

 very slightly, and then not into the compounds valuable to the 

 plant, but into those which are absolutely hurtful. A farmer 

 Y/ho plowed a large quantity of manure sixteen inches below the 

 surface, never could perceive that any benefit resulted from it, 

 either to that or to future crops. Probably the manure was all 

 converted finally into compounds, many of which were poisonous, 



