37 



of Stougliton, who reckons his loss at ten per cent.* Others con- 

 sider that the frost injured their corn to the extent of a quarter or 

 even a third of an average yield. This experience ■will probably 

 suggest the importance of early planting. We know that the time of 

 planting depends on so many circumstances, such as the weather, 

 the condition of the land and the general forwardness or back- 

 wardness of the season, that no rule can be laid down applicable 

 in all cases. We have usually noticed that those who plant as 

 early as the season Avill permit, are most sure of a crop. There 

 is less danger from the late frosts of spring than from the early 

 frosts of autunui. Though the early-planted corn may seem to 

 grow slowly at first, yet it is then striking its roots into the ma- 

 nure and preparing for a vigorous start whenever the hot weather 

 shall come. 



The early frost also renews the question of what kinds of corn 

 should be planted. There is no uniformity of practice among the 

 farmers in this respect. There ought not to be. The smutty 

 white, the brown, the large eight-rowed j^ellows, and the small so- 

 called Canada, are the favorite varieties. Each man consults the 

 records of his experience, the nature of his soil, the amount 

 and quality of his manure, and selects for planting that kind 

 of seed which he thinks (taking these things into consideration,) 

 most likely to yield the largest crop. So uncertain, however, 

 is our climate, that the largest crop may not always be safest, 

 and common prudence would dictate that in the selection of seed, 

 a farmer should remember the possibiUty of an early frost. He 

 can afford to make some deduction from the yield, to ensure its 

 early ripening. 



It Avill be seen from the interesting report of Mr. Clapp, that 

 guano may be used under corn to advantage. If all our farmers, 

 who are able, would conduct their experiments with equal care, 

 and note the res.ults with equal minuteness, a large amount of use- 

 ful knowledge would soon be obtained. What we want is certainty 

 — at least definite statements of experiments accurately conducted 



* Some farmers have assured us that their corn was not injured at all by 

 frost. Indeed, we saw several fields apparently as green as in July, while 

 adjoining fields were white as in November. No doubt the frost obeys a 

 law of operation ; but it has so many seeming freaks and vagaries, and ca- 

 prices, that no human judgment can anticipate its actions. 



