102 [Assembly 



perior piece of corn, and the committee do not hesitate to pronounce 

 it, in the mass, better than any piece of corn which they saw by the 

 way, several of which they stopped to examine. But, as will appear 

 presently, Mr. T's corn is chiefly remarkable for the economical 

 principles upon which it has been grown, and the consequent large 

 profit which it will bring the owner. In addition to these 16 acres, 

 Mr. T. has three more drilled in very thick for fodder. About half 

 of these three acres was manured with prepared peat, the other not ; 

 in other respects, they received the same treatment. But the differ- 

 ence between the two was most striking. The part manured exceeded 

 the other at least one half in size ; and while it was evidently rich 

 in sap, and presented a vigorous, healthy appearance, with many 

 well-filled ears of corn, the other was somewdiat imbrowned, com- 

 paratively dry, and quite destitute of ears. If an argument were 

 needed to show that the farmer is richly remunerated by proper tillage 

 and a judicious application of manure, the present would furnish a 

 strong one. The soil on which this corn is growing is a sandy loam, 

 quite friable. In preparing the ground, the sod was plowed under 

 some seven or eight inches, a little deeper than many farmers are in 

 the habit of plowing ; and there can be no doubt that twelve inches 

 would have given still more striking results, especially as the surface 

 soil is not far from ten inches in depth. The seed was selected with 

 great care, being taken only from stalks bearing two or more well- 

 grown ears, from which the largest grains in the middle were se- 

 lected, the rest being fed to the stock. The hills were planted suf- 

 ficiently far apart to admit of the operation of the cultivator freely, 

 and manure liberally applied. The following incident will give a 

 pretty good idea of Mr. Townsend's manner of using the cultivator. 

 " How many hocings did you give this corn ?" " Only one." "Ah ! 

 then I suppose you used the cultivator pretty freely ?" " Oh, yes," 

 said the old gentlemen, " we kept it going?'' This reply is full of 

 meaning, and was uttered with a deep earnestness, of which it is 

 difficult to give a proper conception on paper. We commend these 

 words to the serious consideration of every farmer who would hope 

 for a large return for his labor. A few words as to the manual labor 

 bestowed upon this corn ; and here it is necessary to mention that 

 Mr. Townsend has about eleven acres of Mercer potatoes, of superior 

 quality and abundant yield. Here we have 19 acres of corn, and 



