MAIZE. 



273 



Sj/stem of culture pursued in the United States. — Maize, the 

 corn, par excellence, of Americaj is grown in every State in the 

 Union, 



Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and Indiana, are in their 

 order the greatest producers of this grain. In Illinois, North 

 Carolina, Greorgia, Alabama, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Caro- 

 lina, New York, Maryland, Arkansas, and the New England 

 States, it appears to be a very favorite crop. In Massachusetts, 

 the most Northern and least favorable State on that account, 

 being cold, a fair proportion is grown, the aggregate produce 

 being greater there than in any of the grains, except oats ; more, 

 indeed, than might be expected, were not labor somewhat cheaper 

 than in more Southern States, where the climate is more congenial. 

 The ordinary produce is twenty-five bushels per acre ; forty 

 bushels is often raised, and in prize crops the weight has come up 

 to 100 bushels per acre. In Ohio the average is lifty-five bushels 

 to the acre. The eight and twelve-rowed varieties of Indian corn 

 are those most usually grown in New York, and the average pro- 

 duce of a good field in that State is from forty to sixty bushsls ; 

 on ordinary ground twenty-five to thirty is a fair crop. The same 

 returns appeared to be derived from ground in New Jersey. Mr. 

 Doubleday, of Binghampton, New York, estimates the produce of 

 that neighbourhood at forty bushels, and the expense of raising 

 the crop as follows, estimating .the worth of the land at twenty- 

 five dollars (say £5) per acre : — 



Dollars. Cents. 



The interest of which is . . . .116 



One ploughing with double team, and harrowing . 3 50 



Seed and planting . . . . 1 00 



Plaster or gypsum, and putting on tlie hill . . 0 37 



Ploughing and hoeing twice, cutting or stalking the corn 2 75 

 Husking or thrashing . , . . 2 50 



11 62 



Average yield, forty bushels; cost of produce, twenty-nine 

 cents. (Is. 4|d.) per bushel. 



Nothing is here put down for manure or cartage, because the 

 fodder, cut up and saved, as usually adopted, is equal to the manure 

 required. It is looked upon that the preparation of ground for 

 corn costs less than wheat ; the approved plan is to plant on sward 

 ground, ploughing at once, and turning the ground completely 

 over, then harrowing longitudinally until a good tilth is obtained. 

 Should the soil not be rich enough, stable manure is first spread 

 on the land. 



Now suppose the corn to sell at seventy-five cents the bushel, 

 the account would stand thus : — ■ 



Dollars. Cents. 



Forty bushels, at seventy-five cents . . . 30 00 



Cost . . . . . . 11 62 



Gain per acre . . . 18 38 



or £3 13s. Gd. British money profit per acre. 



