PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 209 



are solicited in regard to this question: Are buildings actually 

 protected by lightning rods ? 



CORN. 



This question of the day being called up, Dr. Trimble gave 

 his views upon the growth of corn. He said : I find the top that 

 contains the pollen, always precedes the silk, and if a very severe 

 etorm intervenes just at that time, it has been known to destroy the 

 pollen so that the silk was not afterward impregnated, and con- 

 gequently the ears produced no grains. Of sweet corn, he stated 

 that he had some which he had grown many years with great 

 care to keep it pure, and finds it so near perfection that he 

 desires nothing better. It grows short, stout ears, with large 

 grains, and is a very delicious food. I plant it from the 1st of 

 April to the 1st of July, so as to have it in season for the table, 

 during as long a season as possible. 



Wm. S. Carpenter — I had last year some ten sorts of sweet corn 

 in cultivation, and of all others I prefer the Excelsior, which 

 grows two or three ears to the stalk, with twelve or fourteen 

 rows to the ear, and is very rich when cooked. 



TOPPING CORN. 



I have an account of an experiment made by topping a part of 

 a field and leaving part, which proves that the corn not topped 

 yields much better than that which is topped. My practice is to 

 cut up corn at the ground in time to save the fodder in good 

 order. 



Mr. Reynolds — I think that the grain is better upon stalks not 

 topped, but there is a question whether the grain is worth more 

 than the stalks, as they are sometimes very valuable for fodder. 



Andrew S. Fuller — I am very sorry to find the corn question 

 eliciting so little attention. I want to know how far apart we 

 shall grow the difierent sorts of corn, and how many stalks in a 

 hill ? I want to know if there is not some varieties that will be 

 benefited by hilling, and whether it is best to grow corn in hills 

 or drills ? In short, I want to know if we cannot elicit some 

 facts about growing corn which will be useful to a large number 

 of cultivators of this truly great American crop ? 



Dr. Trimble — In North Carolina, corn is planted about two feet 

 apart one way, and five feet the other, two stalks in a hill. In 

 Central New York, the Dutton corn is planted three feet apart 

 each way. You can hardly apply too much manure to corn. 



[Am. Inst.] N 



