Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-19
The Cultivation of Corn.

In all likelihood the next crop of corn
Will be far below the average, for the state
OF the weather has hitherto prevented
blowing and present indications are not
favorable for that labor in a very large
portion of the corn zone of the West.
From present appearances there will be
but little corn up in May, and June-plant-
ed corn never yet made full crop Of sound
corn.
Early in the year we advised our readers
to save every bushel of corn possible and
to plant as much more as possible, for the
reason not that we now think, or then
thought, corn in its raw state intTinsicallv
valuable as an export crop, but on account
OF It's value when converted into beef, NUT
ton and pork. In our issue OF January
18th, we pointed out that, in the event of
the present one being a wet, cold season,
corn would amply pay for storage, and we
urged upon our readers the necessity of
saving their corn as carefully as they
would if the price were high Those who
followed our advice are beginning to reap
the benefit of it, for corn has already de
cided upward movement. and farmers
have already made their appearance in tbs
market as purchasers.
We still advise the planting of as large
an area OF corn as can well be taken care
of, for even if planted in June, and sub
jected to the drouths to which the West is
liable during summer, and the crop prove
not entirely sound, it will still be available
tor feeding purposes, thus enabling the
farmer to reserve the surplus Of proceed
ing years to sell for cash if the price war
rant; and this will undoubtedly be the
case, for, notwithstanding the immense
surplus, the waste incident to a glut and
consequently low prices, has seriously de
creased the amount on hand among the
farmers
In wet and cold seasons the great trou-
bic the farmer has to contend against is
the growth of weeds, while yet the corn is
young. In cold weather these spring up
before the corn makes its appearance, and
if not killed, they can only thereafter be
eradicatcd with the hoe, a process so
tedious and expensive in the large fields
OF the West, as to always render the
crop unremunerative Indeed with the
most economical culture the profits are
not large There is only one way there
fore that weeds may be killed or checked
economically by the Western farmers and
that is by the use Of the harrow. The
great mass of corn cultivators understand
this, and consequently one, two and even
three borrowings are often given with
light harrow, besides the rolling to smooth
the land up to the time the corn gets from
four to six inches high Before the seed
appears above ground and until it begins
to form leaves, there is no danger of moving
the crop, unless the harrow is run excess
sively deep or clogs with the distractions
from trash that may be left in and On the
land. After the corn gets fairly up more
care must be taken that the young blades
be not covered.
The weeds having been kept clear of
the hills until the corn gets strong enough
to bear little earth from the blades of
the cultivator, the crop is half made, and
all that is then necessary is that they be
kept going to keep down weeds and a lit
little earth added from time to time to the
hills, and the soil kept in good filth and
permeable to air and moisture till the crop
be two feet high. The last three years of
drouth in the West have proved that
heavy crop can be made although there be
but little rain succeeding.
Farmers sometimes make mistake by
supposing that the crop cannot be planted
until the whole field be plowed, but the
soil should be fitted and planted as soon as
sufficient land is plowed to enable the
planter to work economically, since, with
little calculation, the planter may be
made to meet, pretty accurately, the rows
previously made.
From the first to the middle of July the
cultivation should be finished in the re-
giOn of the West that is most especially
adapted to the culture of corn, but the
present season it may extend we'll on
towards August unless June should be I'M
usually favorable to growth, and in this
case it would render it still more necessary
that particular diligence should be used in
the cultivation, for, as before observed, if
the weeds once make Roadway, the crop is
not only lessened but the cost of cultiva-
ton is seriously increased.
1t was estimated early in the season that
there would be old corn enough in the
country to more than supply the ordinary
consumption of the West, even
although none were raised this year
Our advices go to show that on
account of the depression in price very