1909. 
1003 
A NEW HAMPSHIRE CORN CROP. 
Results on a Dairy Farm. 
At Middlebrook Farm, Dover, there was raised this 
year a crop of corn estimated from the space occu¬ 
pied in the crib, to be 800 bushels. It was grown on 
six acres by measurement, and is consequently about 
133 bushels of ear corn per acre. The crop was 
husked by a combined husker and shredder. The crib 
is located beside a silo, and the ears were deposited in 
the crib, while the shredded fodder was at the same 
time put in the silo. Two varieties were grown, most 
of the crop being a large-eared, twelve-rowed, yellow 
flint of unknown name, and the rest a white dent 
variety, the Silver King. The corn was cut about 
October 1, and was husked two weeks later. Although 
the season was backward from lack of 
both heat and moisture, the corn was 
fairly mature, and many full ears were 
noted, of both varieties. The yellow 
flint was the more mature, but the white 
dent was in a satisfactory condition for 
keeping in the crib. It is only in the 
southern part of this State, that the 
large flint varieties will mature in the 
average season, and the unfavorable 
weather of the last few years has led 
some farmers to feel that even here, it 
would be better to grow the smaller 
varieties; but Superintendent Hayden 
of Middlebrook Farm believes in stick¬ 
ing to the large kinds. They yield much 
more fodder than the smaller kinds, if 
not more grain, and when the season 
is unfavorable for fully maturing the 
ears, the whole crop is cut into the silo. 
Some of Mr. Hayden’s neighboring 
farmers have doubts about the keeping 
qualities of the half-dry shredded fod¬ 
der, in the silo; but he is confident that 
it will come out all right. To guard 
against too much decay on the surface, 
and to prevent the entrance of air as 
much as possible, he has covered the 
fodder with several inches of saw¬ 
dust as a seal. Middlebrook Farm is situated within 
the city limits, and contains about 300 acres. It is 
conducted as a dairy farm, and besides maintaining 
retail routes in the city, it has just begun the pro¬ 
duction of certified milk for the Boston market. Mr. 
Hayden believes in producing as much of his cattle 
foods as possible, and is trying Alfalfa. A half acre 
appears to be well established. It has passed through 
one Winter, was cut three times this season, and on 
October 21 was about 10 inches in height, thick, and 
beautifully green and thrifty in looks. This part of 
the farm is a sandy ridge lying above bowlder clay, 
which comes to the surface in the lowlands. Con¬ 
sequently there is excellent drainage on this ridge, 
while deep-rooting plants can easily penetrate to the 
water-table maintained by the clay stratum. The soil 
of this Alfalfa field was liberally limed, but no effort 
was made to inoculate it with Alfalfa bacteria. If it 
GROWTH OF RHODODENDRON MAXIMUM. Fig 544. 
withstands the coming Winter, there would seem to be 
no reason why Mr. Hayden cannot develop several 
acres of it. fred w. morse. 
New Hampshir e. 
THE PHILOSOPHY OF COUNTRY LIVING. 
There are many men and women who are dis¬ 
contented with their surroundings, not from any 
financial need or lack of comforts, but because there 
is a longing in their hearts for something which their 
present environment does not give. If they are living 
in the city, there is a “hemmed in” feeling; life seems 
only a treadmill grind; they long for more freedom, 
for a chance to discard the artificialities and conven¬ 
tionalities of city life, and to get closer to nature. I 
knew a man, superintendent of a large factory in 
Brooklyn, who kept to the daily grind all the week. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
He would break away on Sunday, and taking his 
family would go out into the country and eat their 
dinner on the grass with the trees and birds and 
flowers and the fleeting clouds for companions, and 
so rest his soul for another week’s grind. 
While the dollars obtained may make the toil en¬ 
durable, there is no satisfaction, no peace of mind, no 
contentment with a condition which lacks these 
things which the heart desires, and home building— 
how can one build a home, a real true hospitable 
home, where one takes root to remain while life lasts, 
in the city? How much is denied to children who have 
only a city life, children to whom nature in all its 
moods is delightful, who enjoy contact with the birds 
and animals with a keenness of relish that a “grown¬ 
up” can hardly imagine! Many a thoughtful man, 
remembering his youthful days, has left the city and 
made a home in the country solely for his children’s 
sake. There is a turning towards the country in the 
minds of many people, and the tendency is constantly 
increasing. It is well that it should be so, for the 
isolation of country life will be partly broken up, and 
the culture of the city grafted on to the freedom of 
the country, enlarging the life of both. 
And who should go to the country? Not the 
shallow, the artificial; not those to whom dress and 
admiration are as the breath of life; not those who 
cannot find friends in the trees, and companions in 
the birds and animals. Not those who find no delight 
in the warm sunshine, the springing grass, the dear 
old brown Mother Earth. Not those who can find no 
pleasure in the sheen of the waving grass or grain, 
as it bends before the Summer breeze. But to the 
man or woman whose soul is in sympathy with nature, 
who finds delight in all her varying moods, who 
values the health and vigor, the pure air, the freedom 
and independence which country life gives, that man 
or woman ought to build a home in the country as 
soon as circumstances will permit, and they will be 
surprised at the larger life, the feeling of content 
which oneness with one’s surroundings will give. And 
to the true American one of the greatest delights is 
that feeling of independence, the knowledge that he is 
his own master, that he can make a living by labor 
on his own soil, without asking any man for the 
privilege. That independence of character, which is 
the astonishment of all foreigners, is largely if not 
wholly due to the fact that the great bulk of the 
American people have always been agriculturists own¬ 
ing their own land and paying tribute to no “liege 
lord.” They met in town meeting with their equals, 
and voted their own taxes, and held no man as their 
superior. Such independence in the city would be 
out of place, as with the organization necessary to 
make labor effective, there must be many petty bosses, 
and the time paid for by an employer is not one’s 
own to do with as he pleases. Only in the country 
can real liberty and independence be found. 
GEO. A. COSGROVE. 
ANOTHER CASE OF SUBSTITUTION. 
I have seen in your pages recently several articles 
giving experience of persons purchasing fruit trees 
from ifurseries and getting trees not true to label. 
My own experience in that line has been costly and 
exasperating. About seven or eight years ago I 
bought from one of the largest and supposed to be 
most reliable nurseries several hundred peach trees. 
About one-half of the varieties ordered came true to 
name, but the rest were a badly mixed lot, many trees 
being utterly worthless. This experience is not an 
uncommon one if I may judge by other cases reported 
in The R. N.-Y. 
Of three varieties catalogued as valuable new vari¬ 
eties of yellow peaches, I ordered a few trees each. 
When they came into bearing not one of them proved 
to be of any value, but were worthless small white 
fruit. In all, not less than one-fourth of the trees 
were false to label and no good. I wrote the nursery, 
stating the facts, and with wonderful liberality, they 
offered to send without charge trees to replace those 
no good. I could not see the advisability of taking 
another ticket in that lottery, even as a gift, and so 
wrote them. It is a serious loss to care for trees 
four years and then find them of no value. I have 
had similar experience, but not so bad, with some 
other nurseries. I inquired of several 
nurseries what they would charge for 
trees with a guarantee to forfeit $2 for 
each tree (peach) which in four years 
from setting bore fruit not true to 
label. Not one would sell trees on that 
condition. One man said he would need 
to charge $2 per tree. They claim the 
trouble arises from the carelessness of 
workmen, and they disclaim responsi¬ 
bility for such carelessness. If I should 
send my hired man to such nursery and 
lie should there damage any property 
the owners would be likely to claim that 
I am responsible, while they claim im¬ 
munity from damage to customers, 
caused by their employees. I would 
gladly pay double price for trees guar¬ 
anteed true to label, with a forfeit for 
failure, which would cover cost of trees 
up to age of fruiting. The whole ques¬ 
tion is a serious one for fruit growers. 
Massachusetts. m. morse. 
CORN IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 
All over the country farmers are 
working to increase the corn crop. The 
high price of this grain has taught 
its great value as nothing else could. 
In connection with this study of the corn crop, 
farmers everywhere are learning to improve the soil. 
W. W. Hardin, of Cherokee Co., S. C., sends us 
the picture shown at Fig. 545 with this explanation: 
“The land upon which this corn is growing made 
about 10 bushels of corn per acre before it was 
treated. I put 1,000 pounds of lime per acre last 
September, and sowed the land in Crimson clover, 
using 400 pounds of compost, composed of one-third 
kainit, cotton-seed meal and acid phosphate. May 
25 last, I cut the clover and got a. good crop. May 
27 last, I broke the land with two-horse team, har¬ 
rowed three times with Acme harrow, laid off the 
rows for the corn with two-horse team, using a large 
shovel plow, putting into the furrow 300 pounds 
compost as above described, and covered the corn with 
FLOWER TRUSSES OF RHODODENDRON MAXIMUM. 
Fig. 546. 
double-foot plow, leaving corn down in the furrow. 
The corn was worked twice with shovel and bow. 
This photograph was taken July 28, two months 
and one day from date of planting. You can see the 
cow peas between the corn. It is the opinion that it 
will yield 40 bushels per acre on the whole eight acres. 
I used white Learning seed. The crop was much 
injured by hot weather in August.” 
Tn Colorado Alfalfa, hay and sugar beets alone as a 
ration has given good gains of meat and good grades of 
milk. No man can compete with such a feeding ration 
and buy grain. 
In parts of England “hiring fairs” are held—where 
farmers met and contract for workmen. These fairs are 
sometimes called “mops.” Mark Lane Express says the 
name comes from the former practice some servants had 
of carrying some tool to show what they could do. Maid 
servants carried brooms and mops. 
A CORN FIELD IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Fig. 545. 
