KEPOKTS. 



REPORT ON CORN. 



To the Secretary of the Hampshire Agricultural Society : 



The crop of 1893, on the acre of land marked No. 1, and offered for 

 the society's premiums for the best acre of corn, was almost all sorrel. 

 The yield was certainly less than 500 pounds per acre. No manure 

 was used on that crop. In 1894, it was planted with potatoes, receiving 

 two and one-half cords of compost in the drills, and yielded about a 

 hundred bushels of potatoes, two-thirds of them marketable. The soil 

 is a sandy loam, on a gravelly subsoil. Ideal corn grown in a wet season, 

 but altogether too porous for seasons like the two last. After the 

 potatoes were dug, I sowed two bushels of rye, and harrowed it in with 

 an Acme harrow, driver riding. May 24, 1895, I plowed a middling 

 crop of rye in, six inches deep, and harrowed with Acme harrow same 

 day. May 27, I marked both ways and planted with Macombers planter, 

 rows 38 inches, hills 19 inches apart, four kernels in a hill. Took about 

 16 quarts of seed, varieties, " Amherst Dent." " Longfellow," ■• Canada 

 Improved," and " Mrs. Goddard." May 29, scattered 1000 pounds 

 Bradleys XL along rows. May 30 harrowed with Acme harrow, driver 

 walking. This harrowing does not at all disturb the seed, but it levels 

 and fines the surface, mixes the fertilizer thoroughly with the mellow 

 soil over the seed and destroys the myriad of weed seeds which, under 

 favorable conditions, have germinated since the field was plowed. This 

 gives the corn the first chance, and simplifies the problem of keeping 

 the crop clean without unprofitable hand labor. June 10, I thinned to 

 three plants in a hill. June 15 cultivated twice in a row. June 18 

 hoed. July 16, sowed broadcast, 500 pounds Bradleys- XL. Also a 

 peck of herds grass and 10 pounds of red clover. Cultivated twice in 

 a row, once before and once after sowing grass seed, with a light harrow 

 toothed cultivator. Harrowed September 16 and 17. 



