95 ; 
is, that the largest grains do not always necessarily produce a large plant. 
The size of the embryo plant within the seed bears no relation to the size of 
the grain. Of course, it can well be understood that the larger the seed, the 
more food material there is to enable the plant to resist adverse influences, 
and to enable the embryo to push its way up from a depth which 
would be fatal to a weaker germ. In this opinion Iam borne out by the 
Agricultural Research Association of Aberdeen. 
In 1896 the work done by that association was concerned chiefly with the 
cultivation of oats and the grass-crop. With regard to the “dressing”’ or. 
selection of oats for seed, the report says :—‘‘It has been proved by experi- 
ment that, contrary to what might have been anticipated, large seeds afford no 
ground for expectation of the production of large ultimate plants or heavier’ 
crops, nor do they secure any earlier germination. What they do secure is, 
power to reach the surface though deeply deposited, and a stronger briard, 
which will enable the plants to withstand uncongenial conditions of soil or 
season at the early stage of growth. The subject was followed up, and it was 
found, by investigation, that the size and strength of the embryo plant within 
the seed does not bear any relation to the size of the seed; small seeds may 
often contain larger or stronger embryos than a large seed.” 
The pumpkins being sown, two crops are now underway. When the 
corn is pulled, the pumpkins will be seen lying in tons upon the ground. So 
rolific are these latter in a favourable season that I have known a farmer at 
aidley offer them for 10s. a ton merely to get them removed to enable 
him to clean up his ground. The seed being sown, nothing now remains to be 
done for the next four or five months, as the weeds will not grow, or at least 
do not germinate, if they reach the ground, on newly burnt-off scrub, so that 
no cultivation is required. Towards the end of that time, native currants and 
native gooseberries may make their appearance. ‘The latter are of commercial 
value, and are always saleable at a remunerative price to fruiterers. They make 
delicious jam and puddings: Again, then, the farmer is at liberty to carry on 
any other work he may deem necessary, more particularly fencing, which 
should be completed before the crop is above ground. 
_ In a favourable season, on such soil as I have described, the corn grows 
with marvellous rapidity, and will throw out suckers here and there, which. 
should be removed. ‘The labour is not great, and the suckers provide good 
green fodder for cattle, horses, and pigs. 
Just before the stalk begins to turn yellow, the tops may be cut off just 
above the cob, for additional fodder. This will not injure the crop, as the 
pollen from the flower-head has long ago performed its duty by fecundating 
the tassel of the cob, which now requires no more nourishment from it. 
Corn should be pulled on dry days, and not until the grain has set hard 
enough to resist the pressure of the thumb-nail. This test applies also to 
pumpkins, whose ripeness may further be ascertained by noticing that the curl 
at the stalk is withered. 
Should continuous wet weather occur when the corn is ripe, it is a good 
plan to bend down all cobs which are still upright. As a rule, they hang down- 
' wards when thoroughly ripe, and this allows the rain to run off. 
If they remain upright the upper grains will begin to shoot, and so much 
grain is lost or at best only fit to be fed to pigs. : 
When the corn is safely in the barn, every spare moment should be devoted 
to husking it. After husking, 1t should be left some few days to dry thoroughly, 
for the drier it is, the better it will thresh. The husks should not be burned, as 
they make very good bedding for man and beast. An excellent comfortable 
mattress can be made of them by first cutting off the dry knobby stalk, and then 
shredding the softer leaves or husks with a three-pronged dinner-fork. When 
these shredded leaves are put into a bed-ticking, aeiaess or softer bed could not 
be desired. 
The corn has now to be threshed. There is no need to describe the 
threshing-machine, as it will explain itself as soon as itis used. There isa 
