132 



STATEMENT OF R. MANSFIELD, ON CORN. 

 The field planted with corn measures four acres and sixty-eight 

 rods ; the soil is free and easy to Avork, without a single stone upon 

 it ; it has been used as a field for growing redtop seed for a number 

 of years previous to 1850 ; since that it has been pastured by milch 

 cows, till the present year ; no manure had been put upon it ; the 

 cows had been yarded off the land at night, thus reducing the land 

 by continued cropping. Last spring the land was ploughed with 

 Keith's Plough, No. 1, cutting a furrow about ten inches in tvidth, 

 not over seven in depth ; the team was two horses ; it was harrowed 

 lightly with one horse, then furrowed both ways, so as to make about 

 three thousand hills to the acre. The manure used was a mixture of 

 mud with the barn and pigsty manure ; through the year remaining 

 in the yards till it was put directly in the hill. The corn was an 

 eight-rowed variety of yellow, and had been raised for more than 

 forty years in this vicinity. The seed was prepared by a method 

 which I have practised nearly forty years, which prevented the 

 ravages of worms,* so that the hills were full of stalks, with but a 

 very few exceptions. The manure being all put in the hills, the' 

 planting was immediately done, so there was no loss by the sun and 

 winds, as often happens; commenced planting corn the 18th May — 

 owing to stormy weather, it was delayed till June 1st ; commenced 

 ploughing and hoeing 10th June — we ploughed and hoed the field 

 over three times between this and 12th July. The stalks were cut 

 the second week in September ; cut, bound, and piked up the same 

 day ; in about twelve days they were taken to the barn. On the 

 7th of October commenced harvesting. The result is as follows: — 

 Credit.— By 600 bundles stalks, - - - $12.00 

 " 8,550 lbs. husks, - - - - 32.00 

 " 190 bushels corn, - - - 190.00 



$234.06 



Less by cost, as follows, - - - 108.80 



Profit, $65.26 



* A RECEIPT FOR TREPARING SEED CORX. 



Dissolve four table- spoonfuls of tar in one gallon of boiling water, and stir in imme- 

 diately six quarts of corn; in two minutes drain off the water ; then mix one pint of 

 plaster of Paris, which will separate the kernels fir dropping. 



R. Mansfield. 



