KITCHEN-GARDENING. 77 



every tassel as soon as it appears. This will not injure the 

 growing corn in the least ; and it will always be found a com- 

 plete security against mixing of the seed, even when varieties 

 widely different are grown in rows side by side. But the 

 tassels must be clipped off before they have pushed entirely 

 out of the sheath, or a portion of the pollen may be blown to 

 the ears, and thus impregnate the young grain. A piece of 

 paper tied over each ear, will shield it from the pollen. I 

 allude to this subject, as it is desirable to know how to keep a 

 good variety pure for several years. 



MAIZE FOR SOILING, OR FOR DRY FODDER. 



One acre well prepared by thorough pulverization and 

 manuring and seeded with maize, will almost always yield 

 three times as much feed for soiling stock of any kind, as can 

 be produced from any other kind of grain or grass. Growing 

 Maize or Indian-corn feeds largely on coarse manure, which 

 other plants do not appropriate to their growth and develop- 

 ment. For this reason, the ground can be, and always should 

 be, highly manured. If a farmer apprehends a scarcity of pas- 

 ture, he should make preparations at once for putting in one 

 or more acres, for feeding-green, next August, or in September, 

 when pasture fields are often as dry and parched as a barren 

 desert. Should such feed not be required while green, the 

 stalks and leaves, if properly cured, will make excellent dry 

 fodder. Moreover if a crop of Maize is not wanted for green 

 or dry feed, it may be ploughed under, to ameliorate the stub- 

 born condition of a heavy and lumpy soil. Four bushels of 

 Indian-corn per acre will furnish more than three times the 

 amount of vegetable matter for fertilizing a poor soil, than a 

 crop of red clover, peas, or any other material that farmers are 

 accustomed to raise for such purposes. When heavy soils are 

 destitute, in a great degree, of fine mould, which is always 

 eminently essential to the production of bountiful crops of 

 grain and roots, the ground will be extremely lumpy and 



