326 PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



The corn may then be planted in rows, about three feet apart, 

 and from five to six kernels in a hill, lightly covered with 

 loam. It is desirable in theory to spread fifteen or twenty 

 loads of green manure to the acre, and turn it under, to act 

 upon the crop late in the season, and then to put five or six 

 loads of compost in the hill, to give it an early start ; this 

 corresponds with the experience of the best farmers. 



The after culture consists in two or three hoeings, or one 

 cleaning with the cultivator and two hoeings. The first hoe- 

 ing should remove the earth from the roots; the second 

 should raise it into the form of broad, flat hills. Some ex- 

 periments, however, seem to prove that corn is best cultivated 

 on a flat surface, with a tillage depth of from six to twelve 

 inches ; and theory would lead us to the same conclusion. 

 The practice of making hills, injures the roots and exposes 

 them to the influence of drought. 



The modes of harvesting corn are various. Judge Buel, 

 after repeated experiments, recommends the practice of cut- 

 ting it up by the roots, and shocking it in the field, when the 

 kernel has become glazed, so as to yield but little juice when 

 broken open, and while the leaves are still green. We must 

 confess that this practice has, upon the whole, more reasons 

 in favor of it than any other. 



It saves labor ; for the expense of cutting and securing an 

 acre is not more than that of topping it. 



It adds to the ciuantity of grain ; because, when the tops 

 are removed, the nourishment which would go to the kernel 

 is cut off; while, by letting the whole stand for a ^&w days, 

 and then cutting it up by the roots, the process of assimilation 

 will continue to go on for three or four days afterward. 



It increases the quantity of fodder and preserves its nutri- 

 tious properties ; for it is not exposed so directly to the influ- 

 ence of the weather, and a larger quantity of the green parts 

 is preserved. And, finally, it yields more manure and is se- 



