Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-12-06
Cultivation of Corn

Cultivation of Corn
Gen. J. @. Starkweather, of Ocono
mowoc, Wis, prepared for the Trans
actions of the Wisconsin State Agri-
cultural Society for 1870, an interesting
paper on the Cultivation of Corn, Of
which we copy the greater part, as
follows
In my experience [ find that for
good crop of corn the land, especially
sod ground, should be pIowed in the
fall, instead of the spring, as is usually
the custom. This leaves the soil in
much better condition for the crop;
it works and pulverizes better; the sod
is more decomposed, having had full
action of the frOsts, sun and rains, and
is better fitted to furnish food to the
growing plants. It destroys the cut,
and other worms, so damaging to the
growing crop
After blowing the land, haul on the
manure, and spread it from the cart, or
wagon as hauled out It makes no diff
ference if taken out and spread upon
the snow in the winter, the spring rains
vii. so act upon it as to carry the chief
strength into the soil, and when cult
waited and dragged in the spring before
planting, that which is left will become
thoroughly incorporated in the soil
1t is well settled fact, based upon ex-
periments, that manure spread in this
way, is of more value than any other,
and besides, it is done at less expen-
diture of time and labor, and has the
additional advantage of securing the
destruction of all the foul seeds it may
contain.
After the land has been thoroughly
cultivated, and pulverized, making
perfect garden bed of it, then roll 1t.
and mark it off into squares, with
two horse corn marker, that viii make
four rows at time Make the rows
four feet apart each way for the large
staJked varieties three and three and
half feet will do for the smaller
varieties, where the soil is good and
in proper condition-plant with the
hoe, having enough help to finish the
field to be planted in at least three
days time. Plant as early as the
ground is fit. [ am satisfied that we
put off our planting later in the season
than is advisable the result rather of
the press Of work in hespring than the
fear of corn frosts Corn should be
planted early enough to escape the
frost of fall allowing about $50 DAYS
from the time of planting to the time
of maturity.
Soak the corn for twenty four hours
In water, then roll it, or sprinkle it
thoroughly, with hard plaster. In
planting, put only four kernels in
hill. In heavy clay soil, if early in the
spring, plant near the surface of the
ground, and do not cover it so deep,
that it viii be out of the reach of the
warm N of the sun. Do not step on it.
or pound the ground down with the
hoe, after planting When near the
surface the spring rains Will keep it
moist, and the heat of the sun will
cause it sooner to sprout, and grow. If
planted late in the season, it must be
planted deeper in the soil, in order to
obtain the moisture so necessary to its
growth; for then the rain comes less
frequently, and the top of the ground
becomes hard and baked, and corn
planted near the surface, may remain
for weeks dry, without sprouting, and
IN some cases, where it does sprout, for
want of moisture it soon withers I'D
and dies, and the field has to be re-
planted. Witness the season of 1870,
rs fair and complete exposition of the
truth of this theory.
After the corn makes its appearance.
start the cultivators, and keep them at
work almost constantly until the stalks
have become so tall and thick that a
horse cannot pass through the rows
without injury to the growing crop.
The more cultivation, the more corn.
Pumpkins, and sometimes squash. are
planted with corn, and it is supposed
do not detract much from the growth
or yield of the crop; but one thing is
certain, If they do no injury in this re-
spect, the vines do interfere with the
full and complete cultivation of the
land; and 1t seems te me. that what |
ever nourishment is necessary to grow
the pumpkin, is taken from the soil. |
and 1t necessarily must take away from
the corn so much strength required for
its support.
1t IS good plan to plant two or
three rows of potatoes upon the four
sides of the corn-feld, planting the |
hills IN line with the rows of corn. as il |
saves considerable destruction of the |
OF the crop by the horse and cultivator
when turning about When the stalks |
are of sufficient height, the hills |
should be thoroughly examined. and |
only three stalks of the larger varieties
ana not more than four of the smaller !
Yarltles be allowed to mature. The |
crop will be larger and better for the |
trouble taken in this respect.
The Sanford" and many other
kinds Of corn send forth small shoots |
of suckers, to a very great extent, aud
many farmers are in the habit of phil |
ing or breaking them off, believing
that they hinder the corn from matur-
ing early as well as lessen the amount |
grown. In the year 1869 I selected two |
and half acres, from which | took off |
the suckers, and compared them with |
the two and a half adjoining, upon |
which the suckers were allowed to |
grow. Both were MANFRED, planted, |
cultivated and handled alike, and upon |
actual measurement of the yield of |
corn, the difference was greatly IN favor
of the field in which the suckers were |
allowed to grow. It had the most corn, |
the most fodder, and there was no per
ceptlble difference as to the number of
nubbins. OF twenty farmers advising,
half SAID let the suckers grow, and the
other half said take them off; fair
exhibition of how little we know about
farming.
When the corn has reached the glaz-
ing point, the field should be examined |
from tIme to time, and the best, most I
mature ears selected for seed, plated |
together and hung away in some safe
ana dry place to become thoroughly
hardened. The best ears should also
be selected when husked, as in a large
field many choice ears will be overlook |
ca. In this way, by exercising ordin. !
airy ce-'e, we may secure more perfect |
ann 'on-4aet ears and an earlier ripen- !