FROM GKAIX TO EAR. 77 



than the stnge of advancement that has been made by the 

 trees of the orchard and woods. The seed shoukl go nito 

 the gronnd so soon as the soil is warm enough for it to begin 

 iit once a vigorous growth. 



The season's work in the cornfield is only begun when the 

 ground is prepared and the rows are planted. Almost con- 

 stant attention is needed from the time the first si)ear of 

 green rises from the hill until the last ear is husked and the 

 last stalk harvested. 



The common idea of a crow is so clearly associated with 

 Ihe pulling of young corn, that to commend him to the good- 

 will of the farmer may be thought next thing to heresy. 

 There is no doubt that the average crow loves corn, and 

 knows that at the base of a tender shoot lies a soft, sweet 

 morsel. It is too often assumed that a busy crow in a corn- 

 tield is intent only on mischief, and by a constant warfare 

 against him the more serious enemies, in the form of in- 

 jurious insects, have increased. The days are few in which 

 crows can pull the corn, while during the rest of the year 

 they arc friends of the farmer. This black-coated, coarse- 

 voiced bird feeds upon the white grub and cutworms, and 

 for this service should be spared. In many cases the crow 

 pulls only the wilted spears of corn, and thus obtains the 

 marauder that has done the mischief at the root. Let the 

 crow live, and prevent him from having free access to the 

 young corn by scare-crow devices during a few days, and 

 thus reap the benefits of his good work for the rest of the 

 year. 



The number of insects specially injurious to corn is small. 

 It suffers in connection with other crops when vegetation in 

 general is attacked, as in the ravages of the army-worm, oi-, 

 as in the West, when the grasshopper sweeps all before it. 

 Take the whole country through, many a corn-plant is cut 

 off in early life by the white grub. The perfect state of this 

 pest is the large, clumsy May-beetle or June-bug th.i 

 makes so much noise for its size, when within a living- 

 room, especially at evening, where there is a lighted lam)) 

 aijainst wliic;h it can beat its head and burn its wings. Tin; 

 various cutworms ai'e amonij the worst enemies to the 

 young corn. In the s[)ring they have keen appetites, sharp- 



