Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-04-21
Gbe gtauntun WinOitator-
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

correspondent writes as follows to the Consa-
try Gentleman, from York, Pa.
Eds. Country Gentleman : In late num-
of your paper | notice some one inquiring
for the 5est mode of planting corn, whether
deep or shallow, and whether the fertil yer
| Gf any is used) should be applied immedi-
ately in contract with the grain. or covered
with earth before the gra is dropped. Ga
the subject of complaining, like nearly all
agricultural subjects. there is doubtless
great eontrariety Of opinions and exper-
fence among those recognized as good far
mers My object now is not to intrude
my alignment, but to elicit the judgments of
scientific and practical farmers on the sub
ject-,ho should corn be planted-in deep
or shallow burrows, and how covered. that
the best results may be produced ?
Some practical farmers cling with VOL
derful tenacity to the notion that the corlI-
ground should be run out quite shallow fur
rows, and corn planted as near the surface
as possible cam OF divine why this prac
ice is regarded vita 50 much favor, unless
they want the roots as near the top of the
ground as may be, parched up when
drought comes. Or it may be they Imagine,
all tue virtue of the soil, like that OF some
men, to be on the surface, and that the rains
passing down through tie earth. carry the
Lourishment elements upward to the sur
face instead of downward through the body
of the soil But whatever may be the idea
of these farmers who want to keep as near
to daylig It as possible, like small coasters
hlgging the shore and never venturing
far on the bosom OF the ocean, | am unable
on any sound reason 10 approve their prac-
tice However, when one positively disap-
proves course o. Operation, 1t is only fair
that he should indicate substitute. Well,
[ do not claim to be much of farmer, if
do condemn some IDEAS, but am anxious
to learn. s..... ..s... s.-.
n How, then, should we plant corn +? The
ground being well prepared, it should be
flrrowed out, both ways, with furrow pillow,
from three and half to four feet apart, the
pillow being allowed to go down quite deep,
say within two or three inches of the bot
tom of the brok en- ground, where the plow-
ing has been fro Ii six to nine inches deep
Ordinarily the furrow should be run out
two-thirds the depth Of the blowing. Hav-
ing done this, The corn must be dropped in
the bottom of the furrow and covered light
ly, with not more than two inches of on the
earth on the grain and less is better whore
the soil is moist and warm, for the light
covering insures early coming up, and Of
ten more healthy condition in the frat stage
| of growth. The advantages of light cover
ing becomes apparent, when we look at the
injurious consequences Of deep covering, in
the frequent failure Of the corn to come up
at all and if it does work its way through
the mass Of clay on it, and break the crust
on top, VIII oh has had time to torn because
Of the slowness of the stalk coming through
the gronud, it generally leads sickly exist
ence for some time. The longer the corn
plant is coming up, the slower the growth,
and the more yellow it appears for some
time To have the plant start up quickly
aud grow vigorously at the beginning of the
season is great desideratum /; but to have
the crop appropriate to itself all the availa-
Die materials in the ground, and the far
mer not be guilty of the bad financial policy
of allowing his money to remain in the soil
in the shape of fertilizers, producing no in.
terest, is greater desideratum. How then
| can we avail ourselves Hoie laiSeI VI .nS
producing elements contained IN the land =!
BY planting deep enough to afford the roots
an orpol unity to reach and pierce the lower
or deeper portion Of the soil, and that as
early in the season as possible. We want
to draw substance from every part OF the
soil to produce the biggest crop and if we
put on fertilizers We want to get them back
the crop at the earliest day, and not have
hem lie dormantiL the ground. The ma
nurial properties il ground near the surface
are generally liable to be carried down deep
er into the soil by the rains, and in thell
/ descent they are taken up by the roots and
made available in producing the plant -
hence the roots we'll down draw food not
only from the lower soil with which they ar'
in contact but also from the upper portion
of the seil