756 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



three feet apart one way, and the same distance, or two feet 

 and eight inches, with a plough or dray, the other, and the 

 seed put in the bottom of the furrow, the roots immediately 

 strike the decomposed foliage and manure, which is their home. 

 There they remain, and bring forth the blade, stalk, and ear, in 

 rapid succession ; thus giving the farmer, after having passed 

 through it with the cultivator and horse four or five times each 

 way, and hoeing twice, a product of from fifty to seventy-five 

 bushels good sound corn to the acre. 



The practice of most farmers (in the New England States 

 more particularly) has been to put their manure in the hill. 

 Consequently, they have had a larger growth of stalks, and 

 less corn than they would have had if they had spread it and 

 ploughed it in ; the strength of the manure being taken up in 

 the growth of the stalk, and at the season of earing and filling, 

 its only resource is from the soil, for the stalk has not the 

 power that it should have to put forth large long ears, nor 

 to fill out well what is formed. 



Ashes and plaster, in equal parts, very much increase the 

 crop, especially on soils composed of sand and loam. Half a 

 pint of this mixture should be put in the hill, and a slight brush 

 of earth thrown upon it, otherwise the corn will not readily 

 vegetate. This manure answers two very important purposes : 

 1st. It gives the plant an early start, from the fact that the 

 roots, which start before the blade, immediately strike into the 

 ashes and plaster. 2d. The ashes decompose the sod under 

 the corn, and prepare it for the use of the plant. 



The same mixture is equally beneficial on clayey loamy 

 soils, as on those more light and porous. 



Much labor has been expended in raising large mounds 

 around the corn ; consequently the soil is taken from between 

 the hills, and many of the roots are broken and mutilated, and 

 in a dry season the plant suffers. 



Level culture, or as near so as possible, Should be had. in the 

 tillage of this crop. The roots then remain unbroken, and in 

 compliance with those laws that govern the growth of this 

 plant, large supporting roots are sent out from the main stalk, 

 which give it the same strength in the ground that it has when 

 a large hill is made, and much labor is saved. 



