10 



against loss from these causes it is well to plant twice 

 as many kernels in the hill as we wish to have stalks. 

 There is a slight direct advantage in this. For the 

 young plants, 1 know not why, grow faster for a few 

 weeks in thick bunches, than when distant from 

 each other. This method also enables you to dis- 

 pense with all the sickly and unpromising plants, 

 and retain a full supply of such only as are heal- 

 thy and vigorous. The increase of product will am- 

 ply compensate for the extra seed and labor of 

 thinning. 



Much has been written in praise of the famous 

 Baden corn, yielding four and five ears to the stalk. 

 We have been advised to select our seed from stalks 

 bearing two ears, and thus make for ourselves a New 

 England Baden. But I question the prudence of 

 hearkening to the advice. Last Spring a gentleman 

 in Boston sent me three beautiful ears of corn, long, 

 bright and sound ; with a request to have them plant- 

 ed where they might have a good chance to show 

 what they could do. The request was complied 

 with. Subsequently I learned that they had been 

 obtained by Badenizing a Canada corn, and that I 

 might expect to obtain three and four good ears to 

 the stalk. The ears are, I must acknowledge, un- 

 commonly numerous, but very many of them are but 

 small things, and I shall be disappointed, if I find 

 there as much good sound corn as would be obtained 

 from five good stalks in a hill, bearing each one ear. 

 I have for a considerable time thought that Baden's 

 process would do little else than increase the pile of 

 nubbins, or diminish the mow of stalks. This is 



