The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-13
Report of the Committee ON Crop,

| Report OIL the Committee ON CrOps.
To the Hon. John Fl. E,oing, President
Of the Washington county agricultural
Society,":
The undersigned committee, acting
under the instructions Of your society,
would respectfully report that they vis-
tied the farm of James w. Dickey, five
miles north of West Alexander, and
made careful examination of his corn
field, which lies very high. We added
70 our committee three disinterested per.
sons who measured the field accurately
(surface measure) and who afterwards
selected three OF the average size shocks
in different parts of the field. These
shocks we husked, the corn measuring
nineteen half bushels. or six and one
third bushels OF ears and few ears over
which weighed seventy-five lbs. per
bushel in the ear.
The following is the report OF those
who assisted US: 1--WE, the undersign-
ed, who were appointed to measure the
cornheld OF James W. Dickey find that
it is fifty rods square, and contains Is
acres and 100 perches, 100 perches of
which were in potatoes, the balance in
, corn. The field contains ll04 shocks
the corn husked was all measured with
a MALT bushel measure, three heaped for
one bushel shelled, one 6usheL number
ing eighty-five ears and weighing
seventy-five pounds. Whep shelled it
measured one JtShet, one gallon, and one
and. a-haU Pints The shelled corn
weighed sixty pounds, the cobs fifteen
pounds per bushel
Signed EDWARD SMITH,
DAVID LEFFLER,
John MCADwe."
The above is the work OF the entire
committee except the measurement of
the field and the measurement and
weig ht of the corn.
From the above we find the product
Of the field by each shock yielding two
bushels, one peck, one quart and one
pint of shelled corn making in the ag-
gregate 25353 bushels, or one hundred
and sixty-nine bushels shelled corn per
acre. The highest yield upon record
appeared in a monthly report issued by
the Department of Agriculture at Wash
ington, which is reported at two hum
bred bushels shelled corn per acre,
which was raised in one of the Carolina
States
In submitting this. report we must
say We were astonished when we en-
tered the field. the STUDIES were bench
high. The shocks were remarkably
uniform in size all over the field, and
OF huge proportions. Though made as
near as could be from eight hills square
we counted many of the hills and found
Mr.. Dickey correct as to the number in
shock, we also measured the width Of
the rows in several places. and found
them to be two feet five inches by three
feet one inch, and the average number
OF stocks per hill three and half.
The following was solicited from Mr..
Dickey: "He superintended the plow-
ing, and his sons George W. and Jas.
Dickey who are practical farmers have
the credit for the rest.
The field vas in sod eighteen years;
it was plowed as soon as the frost was
out to an average depth of two and one
half inches. The sod was well turned
over, and narrowed six times with a
common tooth harrow just before plant
ing. 1t was marked out both ways at
the distance above stated except about
three acres on steep ground, which was
marked but one way,
The corn was planted about the Goth
of April. When the corn was up in
part only, and the remainder coming
up, they used the common harrow, then
the three shoveled cultivator, next the
double shovel, and for the last time the
single shovel, running twice in each
row each working; working the corn
in all FIVE times. The corn was up last
working TO the horses backs.
Thirty or forty years ago, this same
field only yielded twenty-five to thirty
bushels per acre. Mr.. DIS opinion at
present is, that lis fertility is owing TO
sheep usbandry. He further says, in
fields that lie out q long time the rich
and most fertile part Of the coil is on
top, and by shallow blowing OF sod
ground the nutrition OF the soil is
brought direct and Immediately to the
corn which gives it quick and rapid
growth, and also that the cut worms
and other insects feed upon the grass
turned under, and do not disturb the
corn. Mr.. D. has followed this course
five times with perfect success, while
his neighbors following the old plan
have had to replant what the worms
DESTROYED"
Weeds are plenty this season in
most all the corn fields, but this one is
clear.
We also passed through another field
of his OF fifteen acres which was the
second crop. This was plowed shallow
when in sod, and the next time very
deep. On this field there were 9S5 shocks
by Mr. DIS counting, and from appear
ances whould average over two bushels
per shock OF shelled corn.
We also saw several lois OF his sheep
all in high mutton condition, especially
his ewes. Nine hundred and twenty
two fleeces Of his wool he reports weigh
ed $500 pounds. He has now $50
sheer. Everything about him indicates
thrift.
Mrs. D. and daughters have the
thanks of the committee for a bountl-
full supply OF the good things of this
life.
s. j. CRoTHERs,
WK. WYLiE,
JOHN MCDOWELL, Cor. See.
j. n. HORN,
C. NJ. REED,