American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-16
Planting Corn.

L HE cola anu backward weather ln1S
spring will undoubtedly cause many
farmers in the great corn belt of the West
to fear an untoward season for this i'm
portant cereal, and with good reason, if
the cold spring should be followed by wet
weather in May.
One of the popular decisions with
many is that corn, TO succeed, must be
planted Immediately after blowing
While it is true that in this case the corn
has at least an equal chance with the
weeds, it is about all the defensible argu-
ment in the premises. And the corn
area of the country is diminished by
many acres and many crops are lost en-
tirely by waiting until planting time be-
fore blowing for the crop. Indeed, some
of the best crops We have ever raised
were upon fallplowing, without replow-
ing in the spring, the land being simply
thoroughly cultivated and narrowed to
kill the crop of weeds; this was in wet
seasons untavorable to spring blowing.
1t will therefore be sound policy to plow
whenever practicable, and plant as soon
as the weather is warm enough to germi-
nate the corn; first narrowing thoroughly
to kill the weeds that may have sprung
up.
Land thus plowed, and partially solidi-
fled before planting, will stand far more
narrowing before and after the corn is up,
without tearing out the corn, than freshly
plowed land even when rolled, and in
these days of improved corn planters,
with which the earth may be pressed about
the seed, rolling the entire surface be-
comes unnecessary.
In planting with that class of machines
which have coverers to the dropping at
tachment followed by wheels, leaving the
earth ridged over the seed, care should be
taken not to plant too deeply; three inches
is the utmost depth at which corn should
be planted to insure good and quick ger
mination, unless the soil be exceedingly
dry; two inches being the proper depth TO
insure the most speedy sprouting, the
condition being ordinarily favorable
This depth, however, would be light
planting when the harrow is to be thor
oughly used before and after the corn has
come up. In this case three inches would
be better unless the soil is exceedingly
heavy.
Another circumstance not generally
known by farmers is that good sound seed
planted very early, if it does not become
water soaked, will remain in the ground
until the weather becomes warm and then
sprout promptly, and coming up is far less
susceptible to cold, and will stand frost
that will entirely kill later paintings
Those who have seen ears of corn which
have been ploweG under in the fall
sprOuting from the germ of every kernel
and untouched by frost will readily ap
preciate this. Not that we advise plant
ing corn with view to having it lie q
long time in the ground before germinat
ing; nevertheless it is a fact that it vii
do this and grow when later planted corr
will not. Many farmers understand this
and plant corn, covering pretty deeply
and ridging over the rows, thes'
ridges to be narrowed down just atou
the time the corn is sprouted. If the corr
grows several days are gained for the
season of green corn, and consequently
for ripening; if moi, the next planting
for succession comes all right. So witt
field corn; if one have good seed ant
plenty of it, planting may go on even i
the season be early and cold. If the corr
rot it is simply matter of re-planting; i
it terminate we are so much ahead.
Another circumstance not generally
known in connection with this early
planting is, that corn planted when tn,
soil is yet too cold to terminate the seeC
remains all right, swells gradually and
when warm weather comes, springs up
while other corn, planted later, swells
and, cold spell coming on, instead o
growing it rots, for the reason that in tn
one case the change takes place gradual,
while under low heat, and the warn
weather finds the grain ready to GERM
nate; but in the other case, under the &C
ton of heat and moisture, the chang
takes place quickly, and the next coli
snap finds the grain just in the right con
dition to be rotted. 1t would be well t.
bear this fact in mind, this season espe
cially, as so far 1t has been a succession
of alternately warm and cold spells G
weather From present indications ther
is every reason To conclude that we shat
not have a first-rate season for corn.
not, corn will be high, and every add
tional bushei will be just SO much NOR