tlELJ) CHOl-B. 



41 



tJiat com roota run vei7 near the surface, and when hills are made thev are 

 confined to the small space covered by the hill; while in level culture the 

 roots i-un from one row to the other, thus enabling the com to stand strong, 

 as nature intended, and in no way liable to be blown down, except by winds 

 of unusual violence. 



A Convenient Com Crib. — We illustrate a very convenient style of com 

 crib, which, while costing but a mere trifle more than an ordinary crib, pos- 

 sesses some of the main advantages of a com house; namely, a space pro- 

 tected from the weather sufBcient to accommodate a team with a wagon load 

 of com. At the proper season the grain may be shelled therein, and it is an 

 excellent place to shelter a lumber wagon. The plan needs but Uttle expla- 

 nation. It is simply two cribs placed side by side, and facing each other. 

 The cribs and space between them are covered by one roof. The cribe 

 should be about four feet wide at the bottom, and grow broader as they rise, 

 the taper being on the outside; the projecting roof throws the water clear of 



A OONVKNIENT OOBK CBIB. 



the crib. The height should be sufficient to allow easy shoveling of the 

 com from the wagon into the top of the crib. If one wishes to make it rat- 

 proof, it may be elevated on posts, capped with inverted tin pans; but in 

 that case it would hardly do to store tools in it. Some would suggest a floor 

 and doors, which can easily be added to the plan, if desired. The best ma- 

 terial is sawed scantlings for a frame, and three or four-inch-wide strips for 

 siding. The roof may be made of matched boards. In case it should be 

 determined to floor and hang doors, it would be well to board up the inside 

 of the crib with matched stuff to the height of the eaves. 



Seed Com. — No one will deny that great care should be observed in se- 

 lecting seed com to plant, and yet mimbers of farmers never see their seed 

 com until it is carried to the field at planting-time. We think the best plan 

 is to place a barrel in a comer of the crib, and throw in it every large and 

 vigorous ear. Shell off about two inches of the large ends, in order to get 

 the largest and most prolific grains. This produces a large and healthy 

 plant, that grows much faster than small ones do. Many farmers may think 

 it quite a tedious job to select every ear of com plant«d in this way; but tkey 



