Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-07-08
2fericultmral Department
I. d. R. COLLINS, Editor.
CULTIVATION OF CORN.


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A correspondent of the American Rs-
raj Home, Rochester, gives the follow
ing directions in regard to raising corn:
For the benefit of young farmers, |
wish to give statement of some impor-
tant facts learned by long experience
and observation in raising corn. First
Never raise two crops Of corn in sue
cession on land that will not produce
over seventy-fve bushels to the acre.
Always plant ON sod, if possible, bro
ken up in September or October, that
it may be cross=plowed Immediately
before planting. If the breaking can
not be done early in the fall, do it as
late in the spring as possible. Sod
broken later than the middle of October
in heavy soils will not decay sufficiently
for cross-plowing before planting time,
and with all the narrowing that can be
done will remain cold, heavy, ungen-
ial seed bed.
l doubt if much is gained but time
by fall blowing for corn crop. If the
sod is broken in April or May (the later
the better, provided the planting be done
by May 2Oth) the decomposition of grass
and roots evolves sufficient heat to con-
stitute a hot-bed, causing the corn to
make rapid and vigorous growth. The
sod should not be disturbed during the
whole grazing season farther than, to
keep the surface thoroughly scarifed.
Commence cultivating as soon as the
corn is up. Run your cultivator close
to the corn when small. Work the field
over as often as once in eight or ten
days for sixty days if you do this, you
need not be afraid of its being too dry
or too hot to pillow. The more you pillow
the better your corn will stand the
drouth. You need not be afraid to pillow
corn too long or too late in the season,
but never let more than ten days pass
between the plowings. [ believe that
twenty-five per cent. would be added to
the whole corn crop of the country by a
more thorough cultivation Of the crop
after it is planted. When there is no
turf to interfere with the blowing, do all
your deep blowing before your corn tas-
sells and silks are out, for deep cultiva-
ton after that period will destroy and
cripple large portion of the corn roots,
which should be avoided, if possible
Killing and ridging the earth up to the
corn is worse than useless. Flat cult.
walton proves more satisfactory, all
things considered. Use the double-shov
el, pillow, or cultivator, and keep them
going. Don't stop to hoe, but pillow
pillow.
Never save fodder by topping corn
but cut it below the ear. | commenced
topping the first field of corn that [ eve
raised, because thought it was too greer
to cut up, and would shrink on the cob
but by leaving the lower part of thu
stalk with the ear it would ripen up will
full, plump grains. I knew no bette
then, but neighbor passing by, inform
ed me that my corn was too green to top
but if I would cut it up the grain would
not shrink, because it was portion
of the stalk above the ear that fed tn
grain during its ststages of maturing
and although l did not believe his thee
ry ] followed his advice, and when
husked that corn, found he was ri ght
for all that l had topped was badl.
shrunken and shriveled, while that Gu
up at the ground was heavy, solid grain
Besides, you can save more fodder in
+ day by cutting up at the ground than b
taking the tops above the ear.
l--.a