ESSEX SOCIETY. 125 



a color to the milk and butter, when fed to milch cows. As a 

 general rule, that is the best variety, which produces the great- 

 est amount of grain, in proportion to the stalk and cob. 



Selecting the Seed. Preserve the early ears for seed, is what 

 we are often told to do. This may be well, if we raise a large, 

 late variety ; but would it not be well to save the best ears for 

 seed, rather than the early ones ? I have never seen a very 

 early kind of corn, that was very productive. 



The Proper Distance Apart, at which to Plant. If we plant 

 corn without any regard to sowing grass seed among it, three 

 feet and a half apart, each way, is the proper distance. But if 

 we wish to sow grass seed among it, we had better plant four 

 feet apart ; it is better passing through it, when the corn is 

 large, and the land is not shaded so much. When planted this 

 distance apart, we may leave five stalks in each hill. 



The Cultivation, while Growing. If the plough and culti- 

 vator are used faithfully, but little need be done with the hoe. 

 Since the introduction of the cultivator, many have laid aside 

 the horse plough ; but both, I think, ought to be used, unless 

 the land is very mellow, so that the cultivator will go six inch- 

 es deep. On a hard, wet soil, planted early, the cultivator, 

 alone, makes but little impression. If we use only the plough, 

 it does not break up the lumps. Use the plough first, then let 

 it dry for a few days, then use the cultivator to make the soil 

 fine, then plough again. Afterwards, we use only the cultiva- 

 tor, or harrow ; there is no danger of using either of these too 

 much, for the good of the corn. 



Hilling Corn. I Avas taught to make a large, flat, square 

 hill, at the first time of hoeing ; to raise it some, at the second 

 hoeing ; at the third, or last hoeing, to draw all the loose dirt 

 up around the corn ; and was told to do this, so that the corn 

 might stand up the better. I know not where this idea origi- 

 nated. Perhaps it sprung from the practice of using the stay 

 and corset, to keep the form erect. Experience and common 

 sense alike teach, that both will be better off", without such sup- 

 port. If all the manure has been put in the hill, it may be 

 necessary to make some hill about the corn, to prevent the ma- 

 nure from drying up. 



