American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-01
Corn Cultivation.

Corn ground should be put in good order
in the proper season. There is no danger
of fertilizing too heavily, for all the prod
uct of barnyard and all the stable manure
that can be obtained at neighboring towns
and cities should be lavishly applied. Too
much care and time cannot be expended
in saving or procuring seed containing the
highest amount of vitality. Feeble seed
never raises over half II crop. 1t comes
up feeble and uneven, and sustains feeble
existence and produces a nubbin, if any
| thing. If a farmer would prosper he must
have good seed in all departments of farm
ing-animal and vegetable. If the corn
land was plowed last fall the usual prac-
tice now is to pillow again in the spring
with walking cultivator, then harrow down
level. Cross out with three or four row
marker (if anyone does not know what this
is il is time he did and then plant with q
Brown, Keystone or other good planter.
But few men are expert troopers. Where
there is one in a neighhorhood he should
be employed, and pay him back literally
in work Corn should not be planted too
deep nor too shallow. Judgment must
regulate according to soil. The time to
plant corn is just when all vegetable or
weed life is bursting into life.
When you begin planting close the front
and rear gate to the farm and lock them
for three weeks. There is then no time
TO haul little wheat or corn to market
no time for visiting or fishing. So soon
as you begin planting bring into requisi-
ton every energy, team and hand on the
farm. If there is an extra girl that can
be spared from the house, who can drive
a team, the sweet, new soil and spring
breeZes will add roses to her cheeks and
strength to her limbs. Let the roller fud
low close after the planter. And then
within five days, and before the corn
sprouts reach the surface, go through with
the walking cultivator and pillow so as to
throw little loose soil over the corn. 1t
will prevent the surface from baking, and
will cover up rebellious weeds which are
trying to get a start of the corn. Ii the
ground is the least lumpy follow the cult
vator again with the roller, and then har-
row before the corn is up. This plan pro-
vides for going four times over the ground
between planting and the corn coming up
Now you have a field of corn, if you
have followed our suggestion, which has
come up regularly, thrifty and vigorous.
The ground is clean and mellow, and the
hope of an ample harvest ightens the la
bors. But if your ground be baked, the
corn yellow, feeble and uneven, scarcely
distinguishable from the fox-tail in which
it is lost, then you will toll and sigh for
deliverance from the unrequited labor of
the farmer.
Three weeks commencing the day corn
is planted is the most important period on
a corn farm. If well improved the char
acter of the crop is established, and then
the absence of day will not be so detri-
mental. If a man has large amount to
plant, it will not do TO wait till all is
planted to start the roller, harrow and
cultivator, but extra hands and teams must
be pressed into the service. After corn is
large enough to pillow, it should be plowed
once a week until too high for the beam of
the cultivator. Then about wheat harvest
hands should go through with a hoe and
cut or pull out by hand all weeds which
have escaped the plow, or which are de-
termncd to spread their pestiferous seeds
upon the soil. Follow these directions
and report to headquarters if there be any
errors in the specitications.-I0na State
ReQister