Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-12-07

n"ntly injured as it grows downward.
II it is kept soft ard pliable there is
little danger of this, but if it is allow.
Ell to become dry and brittle, bad sand
cracks or split-hoof may occur
Hearth and Homo
Cultivation of Corn.
ucn. j. q. Starkweathcr, of Ocono
mowuc, Wis, prepared for tho Trans
actions of tho Wisconsin State Agri-
cultural Society for 1870, an interesting
paper on the Cultivation Of Corn, Of
which we copy tho greater part, rs
follows:
In my experience / find that for a
good crop of corn the land, especially
sod ground, should be plowed in the
fall, instead of the spring rs is usually
the custom. This leaves tho soil in
much better condition for the crop;
1t works and pulverizes better; the sod
is more lecomposed, having had full
action of the frosts, sun and rains, and
is better fitted to furnish food to the
growing plants. 1t destroys the cut,
and other worms, 50 damaging to the
growing crop
After blowing the land, haul OH 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
will 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 a we'll settled fact, based upon ex-
perlmcnts, 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 a
perfect garden bed of it, then roll it.,
and mark it off into squares, with q
two horse corn marker, that will make
Jour rows at IL time. Make the rows
four feet apart each way for the large
staIkeu varieties; three and three and
one half feet will do for the smaller
varieties, where the soil ia 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. l am satisfied that we
pat Oft our planting later in the season
than is advisable the result rather of
the press of work in the spring than the
lear OF corn frosts. Corn should be
planted early enough to escape the
frost of fall; allowing about 100 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 will be out of the reach of tie
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 it's
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 up
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
hav" become SO tall and thick that q
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-
spcct, the vines do interfere with the
full and complete cultivation of the
land; and it seems to me, that what
ever nourishment is necessary to grow
the pumpkin, is taken from the soil,
and it 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
Nl,lrs of the corn-tield, planting the
bills in line with the rows of corn, as it
saves considerable destruction of the
TT the crop by the horse and cultivator
when turning about. When the stalks
are OF sufficient height, the hills
should be thoroughly examined, and
ON y three stalks of the larger varieties
and not more than four OF the smaller
v''rltlcs 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 sncl krrs, to a very great extent, and
'luny farmers are in the habit of pull
ing or breaking them off, believing
hat they hinder the corn from mat,lr-
i"5 early us well as lessen tho amount
grown. in the year 1869 l selected two
and hnlf acres, from which I took of
the suckers, and compared them with
the two and q half adjoining, upon
which the suckers were allowed tc
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:
c"ptIblc difference as to the number Of
nubbins. OF twenty farmers advising,
half SAID let the suckels grow, and the
other half said take them off; fair
exhibition Of how little VIC 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 huskcd, as IN Il large
field many choice ears will be overlook
rd. In this way, by exercising oruin.
arv care. W" my secure more perfect
and compact ears and an earlier ripen-
" of orr corn crop, pcrh ps bringing
u to maturity within one hundred days
ANA thus escape all fear of the frosts in
the fall.
There is much difference of opinion,
as IT, whether it is better to hill up
corn, or To leave it for close, level c,ll-
tlvution, passing the cultivator us near
it, possible without ini,lring the roots ::