GENERAL FARM MANAGEMENT. 
315 
other advantage incidental to the cultivation of corn, which is, 
that the ground derives all the benefit of a summer-fallow, and 
that without the loss of a year’s crop. 
Seed Corn. —This is the very first thing to be attended to, 
and it must be attended to at the right time and in the right 
manner, for in the whole range of farming there is nothin^ 
wherein a little neglect will occasion so much loss as this. The 
seed should he timely gathered, and properly secured after¬ 
wards. In September, as soon as the corn begins to glaze, 
the manager should personally and leisurely walk through his 
corn field and carefully select the ripest and biggest ears, leav¬ 
ing the husks on them. The corn thus chosen should, on the 
samo day, be hung up in the chamber or some place where the 
frost will not hurt it. All this is very simple, yet there are 
hundreds of farmers who, to their own great loss, annually neg¬ 
lect it. 
Preparation of Ground. —If the corn ground is to he 
manured, as it should, the dung must be spread on it in the fall, 
and lightly plowed in. At the right time in the spring, the 
land must be carefully cross-plowed. The furrows should be 
narrow, and as deep as the strength of the team will permit ; 
dragging or rolling might then be beneficial, but as too much 
tramping is hurtful to newly-plowed ground, it had better be 
avoided. The rows must be marked off both ways, about four 
feet apart, when the piece will be ready for planting, which 
may be done by machine or by hand, care being taken to drop 
no more than four or five kernels in a hill, for thick planting is 
as hurtful to corn as thick sowing is to wheat. Some farmers 
break timothy-sod and plant into corn the same season. This 
may be an excellent plan in some parts of New York, but I 
have seldom seen it answer much purpose in Wisconsin. It 
seems the sod wants manure, or time to rot. 
Cultivation of Corn. —As soon as the young corn peeps 
aboveground, it must be diligently guarded against all vermin, 
especially “gophers” and blackbirds; these may be respectable 
