The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-05-29
Horticultural Column.
CORN-ITS NATIVITY-INCREASED YIELD
PER ACRE, &c.


Of the cereal grains none is more
extensively cultivated in the United
States than corn (maize). The varie-
ties are very numerous, depending a
great deal upon the character of the
Soil and climate upon which they are
grown. No grain may be grown
through a wider range Of latitude
than Indian corn-Aourishing from
about 40 degrees of Southern to A
degrees Of Northern latitude. Accord
ing to the mean temperature, it ripens
from SIX weeks to seven months. With
the exception of rice, it furnishes the
daily food for larger number Of hu-
man beings than any other grain.
Corn is native grain of the United
States. 1t was first cultivated on the
James River, Virginia, by the English,
in 1908. The mode Of culture was
similar to that followed by the Indians.
As the science Of Agriculture becomes
better understood, the yield Of corn per
acre increases. 1t is almost marvellous
to see what span there is in the yield
Of corn per acre. According to reliable
statistics, it may be put down from to
1S9 bushels per acre. In 1850 nine
competitors in the State Of Kentucky,
each cultivating ten acres, raised II ,44O
bushels Of shelled corn. Some years
ago crop Of 40 bushels of shelled
corn was actually raised in Madison
county, N. Y. These figures, which
are well founded upon facts, are almost
sufficient to put the stigma Of laziness
and shiftlessness upon those farmers
who, from year to year, are cOntented
while harvesting from % to 40 bushels
of corn from an acre. If Madison
county, N. Y, which is in a higher lat
itude than the greater part of Iowa, and
possessing soil much inferior for corn,
10 bushels can be raised from an acre,
then no farmer in this State should be
contented with an average yield of less
than 80 bushels to the acre.
That could be done during ordinary
seasons on nine-tenths Of the farms of
Iowa, verify believe. The reason why
so many farmers don't raise better crops
than they now do, is this-they are too
careless and Indifferent in the cultlva-
ton and management Of their farms.
l don't want to say that many Of them
are too lazy. But then something more
is necessary to raise 1S9 bushels of corn
to the acre than to pull off your coat,
roll up the sleeves, and then ''pitch in"
blind.
10 make farming profitable, the far
mer must not know just ,chat to do,
but at the same time know why he does
it. He should know, chemically speak
ing, the nature and properties of the
soil he cultivates, from day to day and
the special manures that are required by
the various crops he raises; also, the
nature and habits Of the grasses and
cereal plants he cultivates.
1t is almost as philosophical, and
nearly as profitable. to expect to raise a
remuneratiye crop of corn from field
plowed three inches deep, and cultivated
accordingly, as it would be to attempt
to fatten poultry upon clean rye straw.
In cultivating corn so as to pay we'll,
We ought to have good soil, better cul-
tivation and the best seed. Corn may
be made to grow upon almost any soil,
by the application of manure, and skill
full cultivation. But the soil which is
particularly adapted to it, is that which
contains large per centage Of vegeta-
bic mold, is friable and deep, and is
sufficiently supplied with water by evap-
grafton. Prairies, and alluvial deposits,
such as are found along the Sciota
river, in Ohio, may be considered the
natural habitat of corn.
The most remarkable feature, or
fact, in regard to the soil of the Sciota
bottoms, is the exceeding fneness of its
partieles:-I0Wd Homestead.