PRACTICAL PAPERS—CULTIVATION OF CORN. 
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to plain Yankee, as we reach the colder land and higher lati¬ 
tude. In this vicinity, on good corn land, what is termed 
early dent in central Illinois produces the best. Get a variety 
with long kernel and small cob. My test is this; wrap a 
paper around an ear and tie it fast, pull out the ear and shell 
off the corn, if it fills the paper it will do. With most farmers 
the stalks are an object. In that case the Sanford can be used 
profitably for a portion of the crop. An acre or more should 
be planted to early Yankee to cut up for work teams and to 
commence the fattening of hogs. 
Saving of the Seed.— It is probably safe to say that millions 
of dollars are lost annually in the United States by planting 
poor seed. Not so with the smaller grains. During forty-four 
years of farming I have only^ once sown wheat that did 
not germinate ; and never failed on other kinds of small grain. 
Seemingly they can be wet and grown at harvesting, stacked wet 
and poorly threshed and put into bins wet, and still grow. 
Save corn ever so well, and hang it over a bin of grain or hay¬ 
mow, and it will spoil. A slight freeze will destroy it un¬ 
less thoroughly dried, and it seldom dries so well in the field 
that freezing does not kill the germ. Early in September, be¬ 
fore the frosts come or the husks grow yellow, take the team, 
men and boys, if you wish, and drive on one side of the field. 
Let each have a basket, go to the opposite side of the field from 
the wagon and pick toward it, each taking two rows, picking 
the largest and best looking ears without stopping to examine 
them, filling the baskets if you please by the time they get to 
the wagon. That evening truss it up. It should be hung up at 
once, not lie around to mould and heat. The object is to dry 
the cob as speedily as possible, as the moisture in that is what 
does the mischief. I think a back kitchen where the cook- 
stove stands is the best place. An empty corn house or other 
out-building will do. Save enough for two years, and some for 
your neighbors who plant from the crib, to plant over with. 
Corn kept in this way will be good for years, and though it 
may be too cold and rainy to germinate for two or three weeks, 
