GRAIN CROPS. 301 



It is assumed that the land on which it is prepared to grow 

 corn next year is now in grass, and that the hurry of the summer 

 work is past. 



1. The first step is to haul out manure — commencing in 

 August, if possible — and spread it broadcast on the land. The 

 more heavily it is applied the better, — for corn cannot be over-fed. 

 The sooner the manure is spread on the land, after it has been 

 dropped, the better — for in no other place is it subjected to so 

 little loss, and its effect, early in the fall, or in the spring, com- 

 mences from the moment of its application. I am satisfied that 

 the best practice will be to use as much manure as can possibly 

 be spared, and to get it on the land as early as practicable after 

 the hay is removed. 



It stimulates the growth of a luxuriant sod, which it also enriches 

 by its own decomposition; and this sod, with its roots immensely 

 increased in number, in size, and in succulence, is the best supply 

 of food for corn that it is possible to secure. The grass may be 

 eaten off in both fall and spring, but not too closely, and espe- 

 cially the spring feeding should be very slight, if not entirely given 

 up. The chief object is to secure a luxuriant crop of roots. So 

 early in the season the grass does not amount to much as a green 

 crop, but the extent to which the growth of the roots may be 

 increased is very great, and these — together with the constit- 

 uents of the manure absorbed by the soil are of the utmost im- 

 portance. 



2. A few days before it is intended to plant, (the fewer the 

 better,) with ample teams, and implements in good order, the land 

 should be plowed to a depth of not less than/o«r inches, and not 

 more than seven inches — the object being to keep the mass of 

 roots near to the surface, only turning up enough earth to secure 

 good " covering." The furrow should be laid flat, and no grass 

 should be allowed to show on the surface. The surface plow 

 should be followed by a subsoil plow, drawn by a good team and 

 loosening the bottom of the furrow as deeply as possible, — for, 

 although we ought to keep the organic matter in the soil near to 

 the surface, we should at the same time open a passage by which 



