424 [ASSEMBL-V 



Of 100 acres of wheat his average this year was 35 bushels. One 

 half his field was badly affected with smut, which had greatly- 

 lessened his average. 



The Ranch was located on the rich bottom of the Tuba river, 

 near its junction with the Feather river. 



INDIAN CORN. 

 Mr. William Lawton — I have received a communication from 

 Mr. E. Sherman, of Orange county, in reference to his experi- 

 ments for the purpose of improving the varieties of this great 

 agricultural staple, to which I beg leave to call the attention of 

 the club. Mr. Sherman has been making experiments for a num- 

 ber of years for the purpose of obtaining a variety adapted to our 

 climate, and with increased productiveness of grain, and believes 

 he has attained both objects. Out of seventeen varieties, he se- 

 lected a small kind which produced from five to eight ears upon 

 a stalk, " with small grains of every hue," and crossed it with 

 the finest eight-rowed whit>? variety. He continued this cultiva- 

 tion in his garden until he obtained the desired improvement. 

 The small variety had twelve rows covering the cob to the point. 

 The product from these is a large ear of twelve rows, of forty- 

 four to forty-six hard flinty grains, covering the cob in uniform 

 rows from the but to the tip. The cob is perfectly ripened and 

 dry. These qualities show that the crop has matured in good sea- 

 son, and will not be liable to mould or mildew in the crib, hav- 

 ing thus happily succeeded in obtaining a variety which gives its 

 strength more to the grain or ear tlian to the leaves and stalk, 

 (from three to five ears on a stalk), Mr. Seymour next introduced 

 it into field culture, and finds, after three years experience, that 

 it does not deteriorate. On the contrary, to use his own terms, 

 the quantity of corn that can be raised upon an acre, by proper 

 tillage, will fail to command belief. It may be raised to give two 

 quarts to each hill if planted four feet apart, say 170 bushels to 

 the acre. In 1853 he planted his corn in hills, about three feet 

 apart each way, throwing in a shovelful of manure, and dropping 

 on it from three to four grains. The product of this crop, as cer- 

 tified by his neighbors, was 160 bushels shelled corn to the acre, 



