502 HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA. 



tirely to the production of corn, which is converted into beef 

 and pork before being marketed. In prepcaring the ground for 

 cu. II in the Spring, the first thing to consider is the stalks left 

 standing from last year's crop. As soon as the ground is suf- 

 ficiently thawed, these I cut. A stalk cutter, drawn by two 

 horses and cutting two rows at a time, ic used for this purpose. 

 This cuts the stalks into pieces about twelve inches long. I 

 never burn the stalks, but leave every such tiling on the ground, 

 believing this does not exhaust the soil as rapidly as it would 

 to burn them. The stalks being cut, my plow is started, which 

 turns two furrows of twelve inches each and six to eight inches 

 deep. 



In an ordinary Spring I start my corn planter about the 

 twentieth of April and follow up the plow as closely as possi- 

 ble. I use the Brown corn planter with Haworth's rope check 

 rower attached. The last named implement saves marking 

 off the ground, saves one hand in planting, and enables one to 

 run tlie planter the same Avay that the ground is plowed as 

 fast as it is plowed. I prefer the rope to the wire check- 

 rower, "because it drops more accurately on rough ground, is 

 more easily operated, costs less, and, according to my ex- 

 perience, lasts about as long. 



I plant corn three feet, ten inches apart each way, about 

 three inches deep, and drop from three to five grains in a hill. 

 As soon as it is well through the ground, I go over it and re- 

 plant any hills that may be missing, using an ordinary spade 

 for this purpose. When the corn is large enough, that is from 

 two to three inches high, I commence to cultivate. 



I prefer a two-liorse walking cultivator ; one manufactured 

 by Furst and Bradley, of Chicago, gives me great satisfaction. 

 This cultivator I run through the corn from three to four 

 times, or as often as one team will go over fifty acres by the 

 first of July, it not being expedient in my judgment to cultivate 

 in our soil after that time. After this I go through the corn 

 with the hoe and cut out all the larger and obnoxious weeds. 

 My corn, all but about one hundred and ten acres, is husked 

 by hand, and cribbed in the feed yard preparatory to feeding 



