The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-05-04
Ulle Gnlporia Me,vs.
SATURDAY, NAY 4, 1851.
from the Lawrence Journal. |
CULTIVATION.

ha's 1aleu 80 generally and plentIfully as
to quite dispel the fears of many who were
beginning 10 lear the failure of crops from
another drouth. The good to result from
these rains TO the farming interests of Kan
sas, and through those to every department
of industry and trade. will be aln1os, beyond
computation. The experience of last year
shows US SO clearly, we cannot disregard
nor forge. the teaching how dependent upon
the action of natural laws we are for The re-
ward of our labors
1t ID peculiarly question of practical i'm
portance to the farmers of Kansas, in what
way the best pecuniary results can be OBJ
tanned from the capital and labor at their
disposal. Without dispute, the corn crop
will exceed any and perhaps all other crops
combined, at least in the number Of acres
planted, if not in actual value of product
The point to be decided in the cultivation
OF this or any other crop, is the limits
with which the amount OF labor to be ex-
pended upon an acre or any amount of land
must be confined, in order to secure he
largest amount of clear profit
From our own experience and observa-
ton, as well as the results obtained by the
experience of others, we believe that limit
has not been anything like approached in
the cultivation of corn. Indeed, the govern
ing principle with many seems TO be how
little labor can be given to secure any crop
at all. These statements are most conclu-
sively proven in the wide difference between
the minimum, or over average, and tie max
lmum yield per acre upon lands not essen
TALLY different in point of natural fertility.
We do not believe there has ever an instance
occurred in Kansas where too much, or
perhaps even enough labor, provided it was
intelligently given, has been bestowed upon
one or any number of acres of coin to Sc
cure the most profitable results. If this be
true, it is quite apparent that many have
been cultivated, without due regard to econ
omy. If labor and capital were abundant,
we should be strenuous advocates of the
advice given. by the Tribune, few years
since, "Plant one more acre - but mas
much as the supply of both is limited, we
think better results would follow an i'm
proved system in filling what is already un-
der cultivation, rather than undue efforts to
increase the number.
1t does not need any very elaborate argu-
ment to show that, provided the labor We
have at our command will produce an equal
number of bushels upon less number of
acres, than we have been in the habit of
cultivating, that there is larger margin
left for profit. But this is not the most
favorable statemen Mt of the case. In many
instances, the amount. of care given, if be-
slowed upon a less area, would not only
increase the yield per acre, but the aggre-
gate yield as well. This being the case, the
difference in favor of better sy stem Of cult
walton is two-fold, giving larger profit up
on an equal number of bushels, besides
increasing the number.
To illustrate the truth and Importance of
what we have been saying. we give below
some statements in reference to the amount
and manner of the cultivation of the corn
crops that took the premium, given under
the auspices of the State Board of Agricul-
ture OF the State of Indiana, last year. The
statement is found in the Valley Farmer.
The premiums were for the largest yield
from one, FIVE and ten acres. Here is the
list, showing the yield per acre. In the list
for one acre, four entries:
First entry, e63 bushels.
Second entry, lis bushels.
Third entry, 1854 bushels.
Fourth entry, eos! bushels.
ON FIVE ACRES.
First entry, 1914 1T bushels.
Second entry, 141 bushels.
Third entry. 247 bushels.
Fourth entry, 1917 pushels.
ON TEN ACRES.
First entry, u. G63 bushels.
Second entry, 1474 bushels.
Third entry, 1921 bushels.
Fourth entry, 172 bushels.
Fifth entry, 157 bushels.
We have not full report of the manner of
cultivation or quality of soil upon which
the crops were grown, but from what details
we have, we do not infer that the natural
conditions OF the soil were, in any respect,
superior to thousands of acres annually
planted in Kansas, save what was served
BY thorough blowing, from eight TO ten
inches deep. The after cultivation consist
ed, in one instance, in blowing four tunes
with shovel plow, and boeing once alter
the first blowing. In another, one-horse
harrow was used for the first working, and
then worked once week for SIX successive
weeks with double shovel pillow. Another
item of Importance was the distance apart at
which the corn was planted. On the one
acre upon which the 263 bushels were rais-
ed, the corn was put in rows three feet
apart and five or six inches in the row. The
crou on ten acres of the same yield was
planted three and one-half feet each way, as
was also one other field, the only one rs tc
which the particulars were given The
cost Of cultivation is mentioned IN two oil
three instances, and in neither of them does
it amount to FIVE dollars per acre, and II
one, reaching as low as two dollars anc
twenty-five cents per acre, including th'
seed.
Now, what is the lesson taught by thes'
facts-for facts they seem to be, or at leas
were credited as being SO By the Board o
Agriculture of Indiana, and made the bash
for awarding premiums to the amount
one thing is made quite apparent VIZ.
fifteen hundred dollars We think tina
That small per cent. of increased labor IL
the growing of a corn crop results in CIV
ing large per cent. of increase in the pro
ducts: that economy and thorough cultiYa
ton are synonymous terms.
We hope to know, after another harvest
by farmers giving some attention to thes
suggestions, of fields upon which last yea
no harvest was gathered, producing on
hundred bushels per acre, approximatlng