CORN CULTURE. 279 



If the ground is rich, as it should be, there will be a 

 rank growth ; but it is so sweet and tender that even the 

 largest stalks will be eaten up clean, and the results will ap- 

 pear in the improved condition and increased products of 

 the animals. 



It is the practice of very many farmers to grow Soutiiern 

 corn for green feed in preference to sweet corn, because 

 they say it grows faster, and they plant at several different 

 times for a succession of crops, intending to use it before 

 the tassels appear. But I think they make a mistake. For 

 it has been demonstrated by experiments that green corn is 

 of little value as feed for cows before the tassels appear, in 

 comparison to its more mature growth, and that its greatest 

 nutritive value is only attained when the ears are well 

 grown, at which stage it is of double the value, pound for 

 pound, to what it is before tasselling. From experience and 

 observation I am fully satisfied that it does not pay to feed 

 half-grown corn ; in fact, I regard it as a positive waste. 

 Hence I would advise to plant sweet corn, and plant it early, 

 so that it may be well grown by the first of August, from 

 which time it will continue to increase in feeding value un- 

 til frost comes. 



Gentlemen, I have thus given you, in response to the 

 courteous invitation of the Honorable Secretary of this 

 Board, my views in regard to the cultivation of corn, to- 

 gether with some results of experience and some hints as to 

 what I regard the mistakes of others, not so much with the 

 expectation of instructing any one, as with the hope of 

 awakening an interest among the farmers of Massachusetts 

 in a matter which I think is to have an important bearing 

 upon their success, whether engaged especially in the rearing 

 of stock, the fattening of beef or the production of milk. 



The Chairman. Gentlemen, there is no more important 

 subject than the one which has just been so well treated by 

 Mr. Goddard, and it is a subject which heretofore, when 

 presented to the Board, has always been very thoroughly 

 discussed. I hope in the time which we have you will pro- 

 ceed to that discussion with your essayist. 



Mr. Waee. I would like to ask Mr. Goddard one ques- 



