266 LESSONS IX AGRICULTURE 



described above. Lay off twenty-five rows, and number 

 each row from 1 to 25. Plant about half of ear number 

 1 in row number 1. Plant one-half of ear number 2 in 

 row number 2, and so on to number 25. Give all the 

 rows equal and thorough cultivation. At husking time 

 we can judge which row has yielded most, which has 

 the best corn in it, and so on for other desired points. 

 By saving the seed from the best rows for our ear row 

 test next year, we can soon breed up by selection an 

 improved strain of corn. 



Problems 



1. How long will it take to plow a ten-acre field in 

 preparation for corn planting? How long to harrow 

 it? If the work were hired done how much would it 

 cost at the usual price of labor? 



2. How much seed corn will be needed to plant the 

 ten acres if the corn is drilled? How much if checked 

 with a planter? 



3. What will it cost to hire all the labor and to buy 

 the seed corn ? 



4. If the yield of corn were increased five bushels 

 to the acre in your state, how much wealth would be 

 added to the state by the increase? (See the Year Book 

 of 1909.) 



References: Farmers' Bulletins, NOB. 81, 229, 409, 281, and 

 385. 



