256 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
lie is a good one—could do as well as a man. A number of 
things are readily seen. It has not cost much, and there has 
been a very poor chance for weeds and gophers to work their 
mischief. I have been little troubled with the latter since 
pursuing this mode of deep planting and continuous cultiva¬ 
tion. 
It is not necessary to discuss the merits of cultivators. There 
are many of them, and scores of proprietors and agents to do 
the puffing. Whether you use single, double or sulky, work 
close up to the hill, and set the teeth so as to throw enough 
soil around the corn to cover up all weeds too deep to be resur¬ 
rected. Then go through the other way in the same manner. 
As rains sometimes prevent following out the prescribed course, 
it is best to commence the work early. Corn now being free 
from weeds and a foot or more high, ordinary skill will keep 
it in good order. Keep as far from the hills as possible at each 
subsequent working, throwing a little fresh soil up to the corn 
to cover weeds and prevent the evaporation of moisture. In 
\ 
chintz-bug times I concluded to go over my ground again, and 
procured all the help possible, scattering men and boj^s about— 
the corn being in a number of different fields and on different 
farms. When partly worked, so many neighbors said weeds 
should be left to feed the bugs, that I did leave a portion of 
each field, and found afterward, by comparison, that the weeds 
did more harm than the bugs. 
A few years ago, a relative, directly from one of the eastern 
states, who had not been into our fields, remarked that we 
might have very good, natural corn land, but he did not be¬ 
lieve in any such slovenly way of farming. On enquiry, he 
said : “ I understand many never put a hoe into their fields; 
we go over ours three or more times. 77 I replied, u I will show 
you forty acres tilled in that way, cleaner from weeds than any 
one acre you can find in your state. 7 ’ On examination, he 
owned up beaten. No hand cultivation can do the work as 
thorough as the horse, for with the hoe, weeds are cut up near 
the surface and sprout again. 
