382 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



if for no other, because bis father always did 

 so. But of those three methods some one 

 must be y)referable, — whicli is best (;au be de- 

 termined in no other way than by e.Nporiment. 



It is the purpose of this article to <;;ive the 

 results of two series of experiments which 

 appear to be conclusive in the matter. Hav- 

 ing once settled uj^on the best mode of pro- 

 cedure, it is the part of wisdom for each 

 farmer to adhere to that mode that produces 

 the most satisfactory results. 



In the first case, the corn was all cidtivatcd 

 in the same manner, and without regard to 

 the trial of this experiment, ^^^hen the corn 

 Lad i)assed from its milk state and become 

 partially seared, ten hills were cut close to the 

 ground ; the stalks from another ten hills were 

 cut ol! above the ear, and ten hills were lefc 

 imtouched. This corn was all harvested and 

 husked at the same time, Nov. 7, with the fol- 

 lowing result by weight : — 



10 hills, cut close to the ground, produced 13 tbs. 13 ozs. 

 10 hills, f talks cut off above the ear, " 13 lbs. 6 ozs. 

 10 hills, lelt untouched, " 12 lbs, 13 oza, 



showing a marked superiority in favor of cut- 

 ting up close to the ground. 



Again, another experiment, in another 

 locality, was tried, with twenty hills of corn, 

 and conducted in the same manner, with a 

 more marked result, the test being by weight : 



20 hills cut close to the ground 29 lbs, 14 ozs. 



20 hills, stalks topped 26 lbs, 



20 hills left untouched 25 lbs. 



or a diilerence between the two first of about 

 13 per cent, and between cutting up and leav- 

 ing untouched about 17 per cent. 



Still another experiment, between cutting up 

 and topping, showed results yet more favorable 

 to outting up. A field was taken in which 

 the character of the soil was the same, and the 

 corn very even. Four rows were cut up, and 

 four rows topped. Both were harvested at 

 the same time, and on the 2d of November 

 were husked in a bushel basket, each basket 

 • full being weighed with the following result : — 



That cut up at the ground. 



Row Ko, 1 weighed 70 tbs. 



" "2 " 72 lbs. 



" "3 " 74 tbs. 



" " 4, not full, weighed 67 tbs. 



Being in all 292 



That with tops cut. 



Kow No. 1 weighed 7.') tbs. 



" "2 " Ta tbs. 



" "3 " 74 tt)S. 



" " 4, not full, weighed 10 tbs. 13 ozs. 



Being in all 241 lbs, 13 ozs, 



giving 50 pounds 3 ounces, or about 17 per 

 cent, in favor of cutting up. But as there had 

 been some claim made that the greenness of 

 the corn affected the result, in this last experi- 

 ment, the corn on the 17tli of January was 

 shelled, yielding by measure : — that cut up 

 3 bushels, 2 pecks, and that topped '2 bushels, 

 o pecks, leaving a balance of o pecks of sliellcd 

 corn, or about ^1 per cent, in favor of cutting 

 up ; and upon weigliing the same it still showed 



I a balance of 47 pounds 7 ounces, in favor of 



' cutting up. The difference by measure while 

 in the ear was also in favor of cutting up by 



I three pecks. 



This last experiment was also carried still 

 further to answer in some measure the claim 



I that the fodder is much better where topping 

 is practiced, tha-i by cutting up. In this case 

 such evidence as could be adduced went to 

 prove that the stalks were equally as good 

 throughout, as those taken from the top. 



Another fact is to be considered. In many 

 cases where topj)ing is practiced, the corn is 

 husked in the field directly from the hill, leav- 

 ing the field to cattle to select siudi of the 

 husks as are j)alatable, leaving a large share, 

 which is saved by cutting up, to be trodden 

 under foot, and so far as feeding purposes are 

 concerned, entirely lost. And it is a ques- 

 tion of no little importance whether the 

 value of corn fodder is not greater where the 

 whole is cut up at the proper time when the 

 juices furnish the greatest amount of nutri- 

 ment and before the lower portion is changed 

 to woody fibre. 



Baron Liebig has said that "All plants left 

 in a natural state to mature their seeds, give 

 back to the earth, in the form of excrementi- 

 tious matter, a portion of their seed-forming 

 substaiice, thereby diminishing the weight of 

 the grain or seed."' And certainly each of the 

 above experiments furnish conclusive evidence 

 upon this point. Nor is this all. Do not all 

 farmers (perhaps without understanding the 

 principle which lies at the foundation) cut 

 their grains, oats, wheat, rye, &c., when it is 

 just past the milk state ? This is probably for 

 the same reason, because they have discovered 

 that wlien so cut they not only get a greater 

 weight of grain but also a better qviality of 

 straw. 



When matters become so plain that a way- 

 faring man need not err therein, certainly it is 

 time that each one understands his best in- 

 terests. If by cutting up our corn we can in- 

 crease tlie yield seventeen bushels in a hun- 

 dred, it stands us in hand to govern ourselves 

 accordingly. w. h. y. 



Conn'ecticid , 1871. 



For the Xew England Farmer. 

 DKAINAGE ON LIGHT SOILS. 

 IMk. Editor : — Since you did me the honor 

 to publish m}' conuuunication referring to mat- 

 ters suggested by your able corres[)ondent, 

 Royal Smith of ]Millington, I have had oppor- 

 tunity to hear my broad theory as to drainage 

 being applicable profitably to every sort of 

 arable soil, confirmed voluntarily, and, to me 

 rather tmexpectedly. A few days ago while 

 on my way to northern New Hampshire by 

 railway, Ex-Gov. Smyth, of INIanchester, in 

 that State, came on board, and after friendly 

 greeting, addressed me substantially as fol- 

 lows : — 



