180 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



The best and soundest ears should be selected for 

 rejecting the grains which grow near each end. In order 

 to accelerate the growth of the crop, it is sometimes advisa- 

 ble to soak the seed in water a little warm, for about 

 twenty-lour hours. Anoiher method is to pour boiling 

 water upon it ; let it stand on it about half a minute ; then 

 cool it as soon as possible, and plant it before it dries. In 

 this manner the seed will come up much sooner; but if 

 there should be cold rains, immediately alter planting, there 

 is danger that it will not come up at all. 



See SEEDS, Iqr a sale method of quickening its growth. 

 If the seed be smeared all over wnn tar, and then have 

 ashes or gypsum sprinkled on it sufficient to render it fit 

 lor handling, and be then planted, neither birds nor squir- 

 rels will touch it. In this case, however, it is necessary 

 first to soak it sufficiently to make it vegetate ; as, without 

 this, the coat of tar will keep out the moiiture, and prevent 

 the seed from sprouting. 



The proper time for planting depends on the climate, 

 In this State, however, trom the 20ih of May to the first 

 of June, is about the best time. The old Indian rule, which 

 perhaps is the best, is to plant when the leaves of the oak 

 tree have grown as large as a squirrel's foot. 



A change of seed is advisable with this grain, as with all 

 oihers; but a change of seeds grown on different soils is 

 perhaps the most requisite. Cnanges of this seed ought 

 rather to be from east 10 west, or from west to east, allow- 

 ing the climate to be the same, than trom north to south, or 

 from south to north. If it be carried from the south too far 

 to the north, the crop will be large, but will not ripen be- 

 fore the frosts ; and if carried from the north too far to the 

 south, it will ripen earlier than is requisite, but the crop 

 -will be small. But it must be remembered, that climates 

 often depend cm altitude as well as on latitude. Where 

 this crop is raised on bogmeadows, which are always sub- 

 ject to early frosts, the seed should be brought from the 

 nonhward, in order that it may ripen before the frosts. 



Oi the varieties of this plant, those which have the long- 

 est ears and the largest grains will yield most; but Farmers, 

 in many situations, must have regard to that kind which 

 ripens earliest, whether the most productive or not. 



The practice of making very large hills to this crop, 

 while growing, is unnecessary. The principal point in hoe- 

 ingjs, to destroy all the weeds, drawing at the same lime 

 a little fresh earth round the stalks while young. There 

 ought, however, to be sufficient of earth eventually drawn 

 round to support the stalks. The growth of suckers is in- 

 jurious to the crop, and ought to be either pulled up, or 

 bent down to the ground and covered with earth sufficient 



