168 ESSAY ON INDIAN CORN. 



The best kind of Corn to -plant. 



We have planted many of the different varieties of corn, for a 

 few years past, but have found none that we like so well as that which 

 we have raised the longest. This I think is the case with most far- 

 mers ; they succeed better with their old variety than with new vari- 

 eties. Corn is not like the potatoe in this respect. We sometimes 

 get a new variety of potatoe that does well for a few years, and then 

 fails. Not so with Indian corn. Like a true friend, it improves 

 upon long acquaintance. At one time the Baden corn was tighly 

 recommended, as it would produce many ears upon a stalk, but when 

 planted as close as we planted, it produced no go6d ears. There 

 can be no objection to tAvo good ears growing upon one stalk ; but, 

 as a general thing, if the nutriment which goes to support the husks 

 and cob of the extra ears, was to go into one good ear, it would be 

 more valuable than two poor ones. 



The twelve rowed corn is thought highly of by some ; but with 

 us, it does not yield so well as some of the eight rowed varieties ; 

 and the cob being large, it does not dry well. We have sometimes 

 planted a white eight rowed kind, which yields well and is very hard 

 and flinty ; but it falls down much more than some other kinds, and 

 it does not give so good a color to the milk and butter, when fed to 

 milch cows. As a general rule, that is the best variety which pro- 

 duces the greatest 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 produc- 

 tive. 



The proper distance apart at which to pilant. 



If we plant corn without any regard to sowing grass seed among 

 ic, 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. 



