The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-06-21
Early and Clean Culture Makes the
Corn Crop.

~ OBTAlN SOOu CIOp, COTu must nave
good start. AS our farms get older and
the soil loses its friabllity by producing
succession of cereal crops, it becomes the
more necessary that the corn, especially,
should have early and constant cultiva-
ton until it arrives at such maturity as to
secure its own protection from weeds by
shading the ground. Land not contin-
ually renewed by the production of the
grasses or by the application of an abund-
ancc of manure, leaves the crop an easy
prey to insects and to all the adverse cir
cumstances of too much rain to drown it,
or long continued seasons of drought To
parch the ground and cut short the yield
Of corn.
Underdrainage seems to be one of the
great needs of the country, IS is demon
strated at some portion of almost every
year, but as this cannot be done in o day
the farmer must leave it for some future
and must bestOw more labor
in the cultivation of his crops to secure
place the "water level" at the desired
distance beneath the surface of every acre
of his farm, in the proper use of tile.
Much rain has fallen in many sections of
the corn latitude, which will leave the
ground in various degrees of compactness,
and unless farmers use considerable judy
ment and perseverance in the manage
ment of tile soil, it will, before they are
aware of it, obtain that "baked' cOnGi.
ton, from which it is no easy matter to
reduce it to that condition which shall
promote the best growth of the crop.
1t does not pay to wait until the corn Is
large enough to pillow, but by the time it
reaches that size, at which our "fathers
began the process of cultivation, the soil
should be so clean, pulverized and packed,
that the process of securing the best posi-
BILE yield will be more than half performed.
The rudest and most simply constructed
implements, improvised by skillful
farmer, will do more rapid and effectual
work than the best finished and most
expensive machinery, very many times,
and it stands the farmer in hand, when
the work has been delayed for any rea-
son, to use little judgment in the con-
struction of such implements. If roller
is not at hand, some other kind of a
clod-crusher :" may be easily construct
ed, for clOds are great hindrance, and
should not be tolerated on any farm.
Where the ground gets 80 firm as not to
be sufficiently disturbed by the use of q
harrow or properly constructed brush, it
is important that the cultivator is run
astride the rows, before the corn comes
up, which leaves the land in ridged
state. 1t should be left in this condition
until the corn is about to make its appear
ance, when, if the soil is sufficiently mel
low, brush may be used across the
ridges. If cloddy, heavy slab or flat
log drawn in line with the rows will per-
haps do better execution. Hitch under
meath the front edge of the "crusher, !"
that it may override the clOd.i ,8s}.e
If brush is used, contruct it by using q
pole of proper thickness, about twelve
feet in length. Bore inch and one-half
holes, sixteen inches apart, and insert
crab-apple bushes large enough so that
when the tops are crowded together they
will form compact mass. With stiff
plank placed the whole length for the
driver to stand upon, and span 0fhorses
attached to each end Of the pole, with the
heads of the inside ones united by hitch
strap OF proper length, the "machine" is
ready for rapid and effectual work. 1t is
important that the work be done rapidly,
for if the weather is warm the corn will
not wait. If the rows are distinctly seen
in . few days after the operation, it will
be but boys play" to cultivate crop of
corn. Where the soil is sufficiently mel
low, the harrow will effectually subdue
the young weeds and leave the corn in
good condition. II the roller has been
amply used, good square harrow may
be used to excellent advantages until the
corn b large enough to plow. Dont be
alarmed about tearing out the s6fn, II
much damage is being done to the weeds
just starting. In fact, It tickles the ground
in such manner that it will laugh with .
largely increased and abundant harvest
Brother farmers. whatever you do, give
your corn good chance atrahe,v start, if
you would cheap high the golden corn
the coming autumn.-WeetetNB UR0k.