GRAIN CROPS. 183 



Rye is a wholesome grain, and cooked in various forms, is by 

 many considered superior to the flour of wheat. 



These three grains — with the Indian corn, the glory of our 

 New England crops — as a general thing, should be raised in 

 amount equal to the demand of the family of every farmer. 

 So far as breadstuff's are concerned, he would then be indepen-: 

 dent of the world. 



Simon Brown, /or Committee. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



Statement of William Phelps. 



Indian Corn. — The piece of corn which I have entered for a 

 premium was raised on a portion of the rugged soil of which 

 old Belcher hill is composed. The land had not been ploughed 

 for some twenty years previous — having been mown during 

 that time. A number of years ago it was planted with apple 

 trees, set by measurement two rods apart each way. The land, 

 though high, is rather moist and somewhat stony. The trees 

 have this year commenced bearing for the first time. The 

 ground was ploughed early last fall (1861) sometime about the 

 1st of September, about eight inches deep, and as late as possi- 

 ble before the ground froze, thoroughly harrowed. There was 

 considerable grass upon the piece at the time it was ploughed, 

 which was turned under. During the winter and spring we 

 drew manure from the cattle-yard and hog-pen and spread upon 

 the field at the rate of an ox-cart load (well heaped up) to each 

 square formed by four of the apple trees, (comprising of course 

 four rods of ground.) In the spring the land was cross-ploughed, 

 ploughing in the manure. Just before planting, it was again 

 well harrowed and lightly furrowed ; the rows about three feet 

 apart, and manured in tlie hill, a shovelful to each hill, or 

 from twelve to fifteen loads to the acre. The kind of corn 

 planted was the Brown corn, eight-rowed — small cob and large 

 kernel. It was planted about the 20th of May, the hills a little 

 less than three feet apart in the rows. It was thoroughly hoed 

 three times, using the cultivator between the rows, wliich kept 

 it clear of weeds. After the first hoeing a small quantity of a 

 mixture of plaster and ashes in equal parts was applied to each 



