28 



the fourth time was merely loosening the surface of the sfround^ 

 and destroying the weeds. The appearance of the corn was 

 rather unpromising until the rains had wet the manure. It then 

 exhibited a very remarkable growth, and its luxuriance became 

 go great, that it was apprehended by many that the crop was 

 much at hazard. I planted some of this com in the drill meth- 

 od : the standards were from fifteen to twenty inches asunder, 

 and 1 believe (if I may reg'ard this small experiment) that if 

 the field had been planted in this form, the crop would have 

 been more abundant. This method would give sun and space 

 to the shoots, from which much of the crop may be expected : 

 but ihey were so crowded by being in hills, that they could not 

 have proper expansion. For this reason 1 think this corn re- 

 quires the drill method much more than our common corn. 

 The height of the stalks is not greater than much of the com- 

 mon com, but above and below the ears they are much larger. 

 It was not uncommon to see from three to five large shoots^ 

 from a kernel, and from a shoot two good ears. The last sea- 

 son, 1 suspected that the best and most abundant crops might 

 be obtained from the mixed-seed ; this year, since harvest, I 

 am fully convinced that this will prove the fact. This is like- 

 wise the opinion of practical farmers who have examined itj 

 and bespoke some of the mixed-seed. I expect to plant, the 

 next season, another field ; in which case 1 shall surely make 

 use of mixed-seed, and without apprehension of its not coming 

 to maturity; and shall plant in the drill method, leaving the 

 standards at least fifteen inches from each other. What I mean 

 by mixed-seed is, when the kernel has become in a degree flin- 

 ty, from receiving the pollen (or farina) from the stalks of our 

 flinty com. My field became much mixed, from the corn in sur- 

 rounding gardens. This I do not at all regret, for 1 am confi- 

 dent that 1 had on the same space a heavier crop, than where I 

 had pure seed, on ground much better, and much better pre- 

 pared, than the field was ; and this pure seed was fully ripe and 

 taken in the 24th of October. 



The fodder on the field was abundant. It seems the sobei 

 estimate of the best judges, that from the tops and bottoms, on 

 fin acre and a quarter, it was fully equal to two tons of English 



