Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-05-18
MINERAL POINT TRIBUN VI.
Culture of Indian Corn.

AAAoA~SsA
It IS well known fac. that there is
material difference in the yield and quail
lty Of different varieties Of wheat, and
the same is equally true of different va
rieties of corn. The larger varieties,
under coed culture and in favorable sea-
sons, generally give the largest yield per
acre. The smaller varieties ripen earll-
est. As general rule, farmers should
plan. those varieties (having reference
as far as practicable to productiveness,)
which soonest come to maturity.
The utmost care should be exercised In
the selection of seed corn, not only from
the best varieties for the different locall-
ties, but also the seed of the particular
kind desired. Some of the choicest
have been brought to their present per-
lection by selecting the earliest and best
ears from the most prolific stalks. This
ought always to be done before the corn
is gathered in the field, where there is an
opportunity for comparison"
Mr. Brown, of New Hampshire, who
has long grown the variety SO widely
known as the i" Brown or King Philip
corn" says be always selects his seed In
the field choosing ears of uniform size,
with small cobs, and avoiding large butts
selecting in this manner will prevent It's
ripening later and later" He has plant
ed this variety for forty years, and has
during that time improved its quality by
increasing the size OF tbe kernels to near
~ double their original size, and render
ed 1t much more productive and equally
early. He states that for the past fifteen
years his corn crop has been from seven
ty-fve to one hundred and thirty-six BUSH
els OF shelled corn per acre-avera ging
eIghty-five. Pretty fair. crops for the
granite soil Of New Hampshire.
Tine selection of the seed corn in the
field for the next planting cannot be made,
but most rigid selection should be made
of the seed for the coming season. In
consequence of the last unfavorable au-
tumn, a large portion of the corn over
wide districts of the country, did not fully
mature, and neither the corn or cob was
sufficiently dry TO prevent freezing during
The unusual cold of November. Ali such
corn has lost It's vegetative principle
Corn also that has heat or slightly mould
cd, is not suitable for seed. The only
sure way, IN selecting seed corn under
the present circumstances, is to test the
ing. This can be ascertained by taking
two turfs, ten or twelve inches square,
and strewIng some forty kernels of corn
upon the grass side of one of the turfs,
and placing the other turf, (grass side
DOWN over the corn. Keep the sods
about the kitchen fire or stove, for a week
or two, and then it can be pretty accur-
ately ascertained whether all, any or none
of the seed will grow when planted in
the field. Or the corn NAV be planted
IN boxes or pots of loan, and kept in a
warm loom; if the seed is good, it will
germinate as well in the box as In the
field.
1t is no trifling matter to replant even
one acre of land with corn; but last wear
thousands of acres were planted the sec
ond, and IN some cases the third time. In
consequence of using bad seed. Much
Of the late planted failed to ripen well ::
being harvested and cribbeG in too green
a state, great loss has resulted in the
moulding and ro:.ing of the corn In the
crib, and n some instances that left in
the fields has shared a similar fate. result
ing IN heavy losses to thousands of corn
growers.
Some advocate and practice very early
planting Others wait till the ground be-
comes warm and dry, and are content if
they can get their corn planted by the first
of June. Our spring seasons vary SO
widely that it viii not always do to be
governed IN the time Of planting by any
particular date or day as put down in the
almanac. Usually, the leafng-out and
hlossoming of certain kinds OF trees,
IL II 4
time of planting corn.
The soil for corn should be dry, rich
and we'll pulverized. Much is gained in
planting and hoeing, by bringing the land
into fine tllth before putting IN the seed.
On smooth sward land, the double or
Michigan sod pillow is an admirable i'm
niement for preparing green sward for a
corn crop.
Under favorable conditions, corn is one
of the most profitable crops grown in New
England. OF thirty-hve crops of Indian
corn offered for premium In Massachu-
sets, the average profit over all expenses
exceeding S5l per acre.
At the annual meeting of he New
Hampshire State Agricultural Saeietv
holden al Concord, Ian. 9Th, Mr.. Simeon
Abbot, OF hat town. exhibited a state
,neni OF his manner of growing CORP
He raise1 $50 bushels of sound corn on
three acres of land. at cost of thirteen
cents per bushel. The corn at that time
(and probably is now worth 81 per bush.
Ell; leaving a nett profit of 81 cents per
hushel, or profit of So 20 per acre
This is paying better dividends than rail-
road stocks Wisconsin Farmer.
>
HUMANITY To HopSrs ro-.ax