The report of the Ohio Board of Agriculture for 1849, contains many interesting statements in reference to maize culture, made by the officers of numerous county agricultural societies.  In Miami county, 2,030,670 bushels were grown, at an average yield of fifty-five bushels per acre.  Three varieties are cultivated:  the common gourd seed, for cattle; the yellow Kentucky, for hogs and distilling; and the white, for grinding and exportation.  According to the returns from Green county, which produced 1,250,000 bushels of corn in 1849, “a regular rotation of clover, corn, wheat, and clover again, is best for corn; and no crop pays better for extra culture.”  The Harrison county Agricultural Society reports the pork crop at 4,800,000 pounds; and it gave its first premium for corn to Mr. S.B.  Lukens, whose statement is as follows:—­

“The ground had been in meadow ten years, was ploughed six inches deep about the middle of April, was harrowed twice over on the 9th May, and planted on the 11th four feet by two feet.  It came up well, was cultivated and thinned when ten inches high; three stalks were left in a hill.  About two weeks afterward it was again cultivated, and the suckers pulled off.  About the last of June it was again cultivated, making three times the same way, as it was laid off but one way.

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sp;                                              d. c. 
  Expense of culture, gathering, and cribbing, was 17 10
  Produce of 374-3/8 bushels, at 311/4 cents 117 10
          
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  Profit on three acres 100 00

The evidence on which a premium was awarded was such as should satisfy any one that 374 bushels were grown on three acres of land, and at a cost not exceeding 17 dollars 10 cents, delivered in the crib.  This is producing corn at less than 5 cents a bushel.

Whether the statement be true to the letter or not, it shows conclusively the great value of a rich soil for making cheap corn.  The Board of Agriculture estimates the crop of Ohio last year at 70,000,000 of bushels.  Taking the United States as a whole, probably the crop of corn was never better than in the year 1849.  One that has rich land needs only to plough it deep and well, plant in season, and cultivate the earth properly with a plough or cultivator, to secure the growth of a generous crop.  On poor soils the case is very different.

To raise a good crop of corn on poor land, and at the least possible expense, requires some science and much skill in the art of tillage.  Take the same field to operate in, and one farmer will grow 100 bushels of corn at half the cost per bushel that another will expend in labor, which is money.  It unfortunately happens that very skilful farmers are few in number, in comparison with those who have failed to study and practice all attainable improvements.