VARIETIES OF CORN. 



53 



CHESTER COUNTY MAMMOTH. 



there is a good deal in the variety, yet there is a good deal, too, in the 

 character of the soil and the cultivation. Probably the well known 

 variety, King Phillip, or any other good kind, suited to this northern 

 locality, would have done as well under the same circumstances. But it 

 is an all-important matter, that a farmer should choose a suitable variety 

 of seed for his climate. For instance, the corn crop this season (1883) 

 in Michigan and Wisconsin has generally failed, because the most of 

 the seed planted was brought from Kansas and Nebraska, where the 

 season is much longer than in the north, and more time is required 

 for corn to ripen. Had they got their seed from any other northern 

 locality they would probably have been safe* Just now there are a 

 number of very promising new varieties of com making their appear- 

 ance. It would be wise 

 for farmers to test these 

 judiciously in a small 

 way at first, that their 

 adaptation to special 

 climates may be tested. 

 Among these might be 

 mentioned the two ex- 

 cellent kinds, Golden 

 Beauty and Chester 

 County Mammoth, but 

 with the proviso that 

 these should only be planted where there are at least 100 days of 

 safe growing season. 



Q. This mode of culture you describe, Mr. Crozier, is the one you 

 followed on your farm here. For what purpose was your farming 

 land intended?" 



A. It was intended for a dairy and stock farm, and the preparations 

 to the fourth year were simply laying a broad foundation for my 

 future work. The fifth year corn, wheat, rye, oats, peas, mangels 

 and turnips were my general crops. 



Q. Having detailed your method of laying the foundation, as you 

 term it, will you now describe your system of growing root crops, 

 beginning with potatoes ? 



A. My plan of growing potatoes is to plow, and manure broadcast 

 at the rate of ten or twelve loads per acre, as I never lose sight of 

 what is to come after, and roll the ground well before furrowing. 

 The ground can never be furrowed so well when it is loose as when it is 

 made firm by the use of the roller, and my practice has always 

 been, no matter what length the rows, they must be straight and of 

 even width. When the furrows are marked out three feet apart, I 



GOLDEN BEAUTY. 



