GRAIN. 66 



small seedB are frequently too deeply planted ; the seed, after being 

 flown, requires air, warmth, and moisture, by which the seed under- 

 goes some change, and on swelling, a young, tender root bursts forth 

 from the shell, and, in obedience to the laws of gravitation, goes down- 

 ward in search of food, while at the same time a stalk shoots up to- 

 wards the surface, to form the plant. These small roots that first make 

 their appearance, are fine and delicate, they move downward for food 

 to nourish the young plant, hence the food for roots thus tender should 

 be sweet and nutritious, and if it be not found, the plant droops and 

 withers, perhaps dies ; or if it be found only in small quantities, and 

 of an insipid kind, it produces a poor, sickly plant ; or, if the soil be 

 hard and lumpy from bad plowing, and does not come in contact with 

 the young roots, we have only a half-starved plant, or tree. Here 

 again the importance of thorough plowing, and a deep pulverization of 

 soils 



The question has again and again been discussed at Farmers' Clubs 

 and elsewhere, in regard to the quantity of seed to be sown, or planted, 

 upon a given quantity of ground. But, after all every farmer must 

 be his own judge, as it depends upon many circumstances, such as the 

 kind of soil, its tilth, pulverization, tScc, and again, the (|uality of the 

 seed. When the seeds are plump and healthy, and the soil well 

 plaughed and well prepared, otherwise, a much less amount of seed 

 should be used ; as we notice in two of the competitors the present 

 year in growing corn, while the competitor having the greater yield had 

 the less number of hills per rod, or as nine to fourteen ; the competitor 

 having the greater amount of corn estimates, the stover at about two 

 tons, while the other judges he has from four to five ; so that the gain 

 of the one, or the loss of the other is not so great as at first appears. 

 For the Committee, 



EPH'M GRAHAM, Chairman. 



Statement of Luther Page. 



CORN. 



The crop of the tield on which my corn was raised was grass in 1800, 

 with no manure. The land was plowed in 1S69 six inches deep, and 

 planted to corn in 1870, with fifteen loads of good compost manure to 

 the acre. The surface soil is mostly yellow loam, with clay subsoil. 



It was plowed once this Spring, six inches deep, well harrowed, and 

 furrowed three feet apart, one way only. The co.st of plowing and 

 other preparation was S7.150. Fifteen cords of good compost were 

 spread, and a small handful of phosphate was put in each hill. The 

 value of the manure for both seasons was 875.00. Planted by hand 

 from the middle to the last of May, with Carter and Groton eight- 

 rowed yellow corn. The co.st of seed and planting, was $3.50. It 

 was worked with culivator, twice, at a cost, including weeding and thin- 

 ning, of S9.7o. The most of the crop was cut and stooked, the re- 



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