PRACTICAL PAPERS—CULTIVATION OF CORN. 347 
own conditions of soil and climate; for varieties that are val¬ 
uable for cultivation in some localities are nearly worthless in 
others. After selecting the variety to be raised, and ascertain¬ 
ing from trial that the seed will germinate, we must plant at 
the right time and in the best manner, cultivate thoroughly, 
and harvest properly in order to secure the greatest amount of 
profit from our labor and expenditures. 
In my experience I find that for a good crop of corn the land, 
especially sod ground, should be plowed in the fall, instead of 
the spring, as is usually the custom. This leaves the ground 
in much better condition for the crop ; it works and pulverizes 
better; the sod is more decomposed, having had full action of 
the frosts, sun and rains, and is better fitted to furnish food to 
the growing plants. It destroys the cut, and other worms, so 
damaging to the growing crop. After plowing the land, haul 
on the manure, and spread it from the cart, or wagon as hauled 
out. It makes no diffeience if taken out and spread upon 
the snow in the winter, the spring rains will so act upon it as to 
carry the chief strength into the soil, and when cultivated and 
dragged in the spring before planting, that which is left will 
become thoroughly incorporated in the soil. It is a well set¬ 
tled fact, based upon experiments, that manure spread in this 
way, is of more value than in any other, and besides, it is done 
at a less expenditure of time and labor, and has the additional 
advantage of securing the destruction of all the foul seeds it may 
contain. 
There is great differences of opinion as to the proper depth for 
plowing corn land, some maintaining that 10 inches or more is 
preferable ; others give the preference to shallow plowing, not to 
exceed 4 or 6 inches. Both courses are sustained by experi¬ 
ments, which prove as much in the one case, as the other. 
Farmers must determine by their own individual experiments 
which is the best adapted to their lands ; for different soils re¬ 
quire different courses to be pursued in this respect. I find 
my land doing the best, when plowed about six inches in 
depth. 
