The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-03-18
Respectful
Chapter on Corn Culture.

Chapter on Corn Culture.
Eds. Irdirie Farmer IL have been
thinking for some time, would give you my
experience in raising corn, from which
your readers may derive some useful hints.
| do not profess to be scientific farmer,
but at the same time would avail myself of
all information within my grasp. As this
is one Of the best paying Of the great sta
pies in the West, so anything that will con
tribute to the productiveness Of this crop.
should not be lost sight Of. 1t is not the
'armcr that tills the most ground that has
the largest crop on the same soil, but it is
the one that prepares the soil well, and
puts his crop into the ground at the proper
time, and tends to it until it is harvested.
tn the first place, the soil must be stirred
to the depth Of eight or ten inches, the
deeper the better, either for wet or dry sea
son but where the sub soil is thrown to
the surface, it will not produce SO we'll as
the first crop unless it is done in the fall.
"nd exposed to the action of the frost dur.
ing the winter. make a practice to fall
pillow all the ground possible, both for
spring wheat and corn. Spring wheat
ground should be plowcd as soon after har.
vest as can be, for it will produce better
than late blowing.
After the gr. und is well plowed, harrow
cd and in good order, | take two horse
planter, (Brown's) laying off aud planting
ut the same time, planting it one way, or
IN other words, drilling it, using the small
sized holes which drop generally two grains
IN hlll-thc hills from fifteen to eighteen
INCHES apart, and the rows three feet eight
inches apart. After the planting is done,
Use the roller. Have rolled the ground af.
ter the corn was up three or four inches
nigh. AS soon as the corn is cleverly up,
commence working it with small Diamond
Flow, with rolling cutter to keep the
ciodS, If any, off the corn Z; blowing shallow
the first time, and throwing the ground
from the corn, running as closely as pos
possible without disturbing the corn. In
planting with one of these planters, if
little care is taken in driving, you can have
straight rows that will not vary more than
wo inches in the row. whereas by laying
= IT with pillow, it will vary from four to
AK inches. The next time gong through
1t, use the shovel pillow to split the middles.
once in row. Next use cultivator either
''nc or two horse, which will level the
ground next, use the shovel plow, going
twice in row. BY this time it will beal
considerable soil, following with hoes to
destroy any weeds that may be left When
the corn is about waist high, lay it aside by
giving it good blowing with the diamond
plow, throwing the ground to the corr.
One bushcl Of seed will plant about seven
acres. | gather seed as soon as the shuck
IS turned white, and hang it up in dry
place until wanted for planting. In picking
corn for seed, try to get the best cars; do
not believe as general rule, in selecting
from stalks bearing two cars, unless they
are as good as others having but one. l
grow principally the the yellow corn, which
goes by the name of the "Day" corn. It
was brought here by Mr.. Day, from Ohio,
several years ago.