232 Transactions of tbe American Institute. 



sible to high priced eloquence. We are sociable. Sunday visiting is 

 common, and tolerated by the most religious. In public dinners we 

 are not excelled ; and none are despised because they corae in ox 

 wagons, or clad in homespun. If we have little wealth, it is not 

 owing to a want of ability that we do not acquire it. Our women 

 are ignorant of French inventions. They glory in bearing fruit, and. 

 are proud of it. ^ 



The Impoetance of Planting Corn. 



Hr. Solon Robinson, referring to an article in the Tribune, from 

 which he differed in opinion, said he wished to call the attention of 

 farmers now to the importance of getting in just as much corn as 

 possible. As a nation, we shall need more food next fall, and every 

 acre planted in corn is so much more toward the bread supply. 



Some discussion followed as to the latest date for profitable corn 

 planting. Mr. S. Edwards Todd said one year he planted on the 

 26th of June, and made just as good corn and as much of it as from 

 that planted on the 26th of May. Others said they would not plant 

 after the 15th of June. Others said it makes much difference whether 

 the corn is planted in poor or rich, warin land ; that corn is a tropical 

 plant and loves hot sun, and, in favorable soils, will come on and 

 mature, yielding a full crop though planted as late as the middle of 

 June. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman then proposed the following resolution, as a formal 

 exj)ression of the views of the club on a subject of mucli importance : 



'■'■ Besolved, by the American Institute Farmers' Club, That, in 

 view of the peculiarities of the present season, and the great ii/ipor- 

 tance of supplying our market with an abundance of food, we recom- 

 mend to the farmers of this country generally to plant this spring as 

 large crops as possible of Indian corn, and that little risk of a mature 

 crop on well prepared land is taken by planting corn any time before 

 the middle of June." 



Mr. Solon Rolnuiion. — I hope that resolution will pass the club. 

 Of course, it is understood that it relates to tlie region near New 

 York city. We are not recommending the people of Florida or Texas 

 to plant corn at a time when they sometimes have roasting-eai*s. 

 But in the north, and especially the northeast, we take this mode of 

 expressing our conviction that the material prosperit}' of our people, 

 and the comfort of the poor, will be promoted by large crops of Indian 

 corn ; and therefore we say to the farmers, plant more corn than you 



