INDIAN COEN. 259 



cob of the white weighing 290 grains when burned left 4 

 grains. Of this residue there are just such minerals as are 

 contained in the animal tissues. Thus, it may be seen, that 

 the cobs, as well as the grains, take up substances from the 

 soil according to the capability of each variety. 



Much judgment must be exercised by persons selecting 

 seed corn. Those living on bottom land, rich in humus, 

 will select any of the large kinds, assured of a crop of 

 good corn, while those living on high elevations, with cool 

 winds and short summers, will select, naturally, those 

 varieties of flints that mature in a short time, and are ac- 

 climatized to the cold. Should it be for fattening purposes 

 the oily corns or "yellows" are taken. But at last the 

 farmer can be the best judge of what has done well on his 

 soil, and will, therefore be governed by his experience. 



CULTIVATION. 



There is scarcely a farmer in the State of Tennessee but 

 has some favorite method of cultivating corn, which he 

 learned by his own, or the experience of his ancestors, and 

 because he has always succeeded well he is satisfied to con- 

 tinue in the beaten path. But as the country thickens in 

 population, land becomes more valuable, and labor cheaper, 

 so if he should keep pace with the times, it should be his 

 endeavor to produce the same surplus as formerly, with less 

 land. This can be done by studying the plant food required, 

 and supplying it in sufficient quantity. Vegetation is very 

 adaptive, and corn planted on poor land, will make corn, 

 though the ears are meagre and the yield sparse. But sup- 

 ply a sufficiency of food to that corn through the same 

 medium of soil and its gluttony becomes amazing, and in- 

 stead of the diminutive stalks scattered sparsely on the land, 

 behold the great proud plant, spreading its large, green 

 leaves to the breeze, waving its tall, yellow plume on high, 

 and thrusting out its huge aldermanic fruit in the middle. 

 The outlay of manure, quickly returns manifold in the 



