Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-12-07

hills in line with the rows of corn, as it
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
and not more than four Of the smaller
varities 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, and
many farmers are in the habit of pull
ing or breaking them off, believing
that they hinder the corn from matur-
ing early as we'll as lessen the amount
grown. In the year 1869 selected two
and a 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. 1t 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
mature ears selected for seed, plated
! together and hung away in some safe
and dry place to become thoroughly
| hardened. The best ears should also
be selected when husked, as in large
/ field many choice ears will be overlook
ed. In this way, by exercising ordin.
airy care. we may secure more perfect
and compact ears and M earlier ripen-
ing of our corn crop, perh ps bringing
it to maturity within one hundred days
and thus escape all fear of the frosts in
the fall.
There is much difference of opinion,
as to whether it is better to hill up
corn, or to leave it for close, level cul
tivation, passing the cultivator as near
as possible without injuring the roots
from experiment made, ! conclude,
that with the Dent varieties it is better
to use the hoe, and hill up consider
ably after the third cultivation, but
with the smaller varieties, it is of no
use whatever, an injury, rather than a
benefit When the corn is sufficiently
matured, before the stalks begin to
wither, it should be cut up, and placed
in shocks for the final curing. / would
secure all varieties, excepting the Dent,
in this way.
The dent l would top for fodder,
leaving the corn upon the stalks stand
ing i'll the field when ready to gather,
drive in your team, pick the corn with
the husks on and crib it. Husking is a
waste of time and money; it will keep
and feed out, husks and all, just as
well, if not better; animals will be
obliged to consume more time IN get
ting at the corn, and consequently it
will be more slowly and better masti-
Gated When the crop is gathered,
turn in your cattle to consume what is
left, taking particular care, however,
that they begin gradually, and have
plenty of water and other food, until
they become accustomed to the fodder.
In this way nearly all will beconsumed
without any danger to the stock from
smut.
In the spring, before the frost has
LETT the ground, hitch your team to
stick of timber, of sufficient length to
cover three rows of stalks, and Of suiti-
cient weight to break them down; then
drive around the field as you intend to
pillow, and the stalks will be carried to
the ground, and easily plowed under
In this way corn can follow corn, with
profit to itself, ard benefit to the land
for large portion is returned as ma
nure to the soil from which the crop
was taken.
Other varieties of corn should be cut
up and placed in shocks for curing
and when sufficiently dried it can
either be hauled into the barn for
husking in the winter, without loss of
stalks or corn--leaving the land ready
for fall plowing-or it can be husked
in the field, the corn cribbed, and the
stalks put in the barn, or in small
stacks for feeding purposes.
Corn, as a crop, has no wastage the
grain, the stalk, the cob, every part Of
it can be used as food. Cattle, horses,
sheep, hogs, in fact, all animals, can be
fed and fattened on it. Man himself,
enjoys and appreciates it. 1t costs less
to raise than other grain. There is
more profit in it. 1t leaves the land IN
splendid condition for other crops, and
exhausts it less. Taken all III all, it is
the crop for the farmer.