AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK, 133 



length, breadth, and depth of the bulk; multiply these dimensions to* 

 gether; and their product by 4 ; then cut off one figure from the right 

 hand of this last product. This gives the bushels, and decimal of a 

 bushel of shdled conu If corn in the ear, substitute 8 for 4, and cut off 

 one figure as before. 



EXAMPLE : 



1 .2 feet long, 

 1 1 fuel broad, 



1.32 

 6 feet deep. 



792 

 4 multiple for shelled corn. 



316.8 bushels in house. 



When 8 is use! as a multiple to find the quantity of com in 

 the ear, it is on the ground of 2 bushels of such making 1 of 

 shelled grain. 



There are other rules given for the same purpose which do not agree with this, 

 and it appears that the accuracy of this mode of measuring requires further testing. 



307. It is very important that the best ears should be saved 

 for seed ; as corn rapidly degenerates or improves according to 

 the seed planted. Careful farmers select the best ears whilo 

 husking ; leave part of the husk attached to them ; plait them 

 together ; and hang them up in a dry room. Corn not per 

 fectly ripened or dried, heats when thrown together in large 

 quantities, and the germinative power is lost. Two years ago, 

 owing to early frosts, the corn in Michigan was imperfectly 

 dried ; and, in the spring, corn taken from the crib very gener 

 ally failed to grow; while, preserved in the house, as above re 

 commended, it is said no failures occurred. The loss of labor 

 and time, and of the crop in consequence, was estimated at many 

 thousand dollars in this one State alone. It is found advisable 

 to change the seed every few years, procuring the new from a 

 location further north, and from a different soil. 



308. In the southern, and middle western States, it is customary to 

 turn hogs and cattle into the field of standing corn, but this is a very 



