Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-13
The Corn Field.

The Importance of thorough disinte
grafton OF the soil in growing corn can
not be over estimated. 1t is the key
stone of success. Air and water directly
or indirectly are the most important
agents in the growth of plants, and the
soil should be so finely pulverized as to
admit of the freest circulation of both.
Soil may have all the constituents of the
growing plant, but unless they can be
acted upon chemically by air and water
they are locked up-are not available
and might as well be absent. Manure is
good, but can never take the place of
thorough cultivation. We have referred
10 this subject so frequently that we may
be accused of useless repetition, but if
we can impress its Importance on the
minds of one-tenth of our readers so that
they will act upon it we will cheerfully
bear the charge of repetition. We know
too well what the general practice is.
Land is plowed as hurriedly as possible.
Frequently the field when finished is
nothing but mass of Jumps. The har
row is put on and these Jumps are
smoothed over-not broken up-and
when the corn is planted it is often diff
cult to obtain pulverized dirt enough to
cover it. Under such circumstances no
crop can succeed. A clod, hard and
solid, is as useless as a stone te the grow
ing crop, and vet within it are locked up
elements which would transform the pale,
sickly sprout into vigorous, healthy
| plant.
| In this work of disintegration the plsw
| should perform more than it usually
does. II, after turning over the soil
once, you are satisfied that it is not fine
enough give it good narrowing and stir
it again, and repeat the process until it
is fine enough Remember that you
can't pulverize too much and that every
blowing you give it until the work is per-
feet pays Jethro Tull was so firmly
convinced OF the efficacy of pulvcrization
that he believed no manure was needed
| that thorough cultivation alone would
produce bountiful crops year after year.
He was mistaken, of course, but his
practice was nearer correct than that of
many farmers of the present day.
This disintegration must be done be-
fore the corn is planted, and it should
extend as deep as you can make 1t. The
cultivation corn receives after it is plant
ed assists in this matter, but cannot
take the place of previous neglect. In
loose, loamy soils the work of pulveriz-
ing is comparatively easy and it would
be supertluous to pillow them more than
once, perhaps On these the harrow
will accomplish all that is needed, after
the soil has been stirred. 1t is of the
vast area of stiff clay soils we speak
soils that predominant over large Sec
tons OF the country--which are rich in
plant food and will produce thrice the
average crop under IA better system of
culture. The importance of using frost
in the grinding up of clay soils has been
frequently urged in these columns, and
it is well understood. Those who
plowed last fall for the first time as an
experiment, will never have TO be urged
again. Under the severe and continued
action of last winters cold they Will find
their fields caicinea to degree OF fine
ness and depth such as they may never
hope to equal by mere mechanical
means alone. An excellent plan with
fields is TO haul ost manure and pillow 1t
under lightly-not more than five or six
inches dees. This places it in the proper
position 10 be available TO the roots in
the earlier stages of growth. After the
corn is planted ashes or lime or mkt
ure of both is an excellent application
TO the hill, Corn responds literally to
almost any application of fertilizers,
and always pays well Tor IL Manure as
we'll as soil should be finely pulverized.
MANY persons lose half the efficacy of
/ the manure, almost, because 1t is lett IN
humps. The finer the sell and manure,
and the more thoroughly mixed they
are, the better the crops in every case
OHIO Farmer.