The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1877-10-02
GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Profitable Corn Growing.


the large yield of the rich prairie States
where an average of forty to fifty bush
els per acre is usual. In the Eastern,
Middle and Southern States, the yield
is very low and on the whole does not
s,lrpass fifteen bushels per acre. Yet
in isolated cascs in these States many
good farmers produce seventy, eighty
or even one hundred bushels per acre,
and many ambitious farmers are trying
to reach a higher limit yet. This is not
Mt all impossible it is not even improbn-
bic. It is reasonable to go further and
say TINT the very high yield is not Mt all
difficult to attain. Indeed it Is very
easy to figure ont crop of one hundred
bushels Of she1led corn per acre, and
we do not think it much less easy to
reduce the figuring to practice. Thus
if we can grow three stalks to q hill,
with the hills three and q half feet apart,
we have 3,7OO hills and II, 100 stalks
per acre. II every stalk should bear one
good ear there would b, 100 ears per
0crc. One hundred good ears weighing
twelve ounces each would give one
bushel of shelled corn. Therefore this
crnp would amount to III bushels per
acre. The only requisite for this pro-
tit:,ble crop then, is that we should
TUlSC ~ NNtJ6tY VI COIA IlItC BIOutlCCb uO
barren stalks and that will carry one
seems to bo very simple matter, but
many farmers would be surprised to
learn how small n proportion Of stalks
in their fields carry even ono car.
We have been selecting seed, and by
all other means have been endeavoring
to grow corn that should produce two
good ears per stalk, and yet we have not
succeeded in growing any that will on
the average produce more than one ear
for every two stalks. With the easy
possibility of reaching ono hundred
bushels per acre if only fertile stalks
were grown, vet farmers look upon one
who talkstoi such a crop as too enthusi-
astic, if not foolish. It seems rs though
we had been all this time pursuing q
wrong idea, OF following a wrong course,
and neglecting the most palpable and
plain path to success. 1t is not to fer
tilize our ground 80 richly as to grow
luxuriant stalks with two or three ears
each in place of one but to grow mod
erately sized stalks, each having nm eur
in place of those with none.
In passing through fair-looking
field of corn number OF stalks with
out ears will always be seen. It is
these that dilute and lessen the value of
the crop. Can we get rid of these by
any means? 1t is certainly our busi-
ness to do it if possible, just rs we
should weed out of our yards hens
which lay no eggs, sows which produce
no litters. COWS without calves or milk,
and mares without foals ; or cut out from
our orchards trees that yield no fruit. AS
no farmer would tolerate such worthless
stock so he should not tolerate barrenness
in his cornfield. Among other many use-
full suggestions made by DIR. E. L.
Sturteyant, of Massachusetts, who is
ono of our most scientific AMI practical
farmers and agricultural Investigators,
we owe to him M idea that we think
may be turned to the greatest advantage
in improving our corn crops. It is to
change the present character of this
grain by a coilrse Of selection and breed
ing similar to that through which we
have brought our live stock to such a
high degree of profitable excellence. It
il simply to discontinue the growing of
barren stalks and prevent them from
fertillzing tho seed Of the prolific ones.
10 do this, all those stalks which show
no sign of an ear or silk (Which is
the female fower) when the tnssel or
male flowers appear, should be topped
so as to deprive them of their powers OF
reproduction, should be emasculated in
fact. We should lose nothing by this,
because we should ut least have the fod-
der, which is all we should get under
any circumstances, but we should have
the very important advantage of fertiliz-
ing the other plants with pollen from
prolific stalks. Hence, we might ex-
pect in very short time to 80 change
the character and habits of tho corn ns
to have every plant prolific and produc-
tive of Mt least one ear. If in time we
could give the plant the habit of bear
ing twin cars, or three, four or more |;
and by tho required system of fertiliz-
ing the soil secure so vigorous growth
as to mature these ears perfectly, then
what gain should we have made. To
grow five acres of corn yielding 500
bushels would cost no more than it now
costs to grow five acres yielding one
hundred bushels, excepting theincreased
labor of husking and storing the ears,
and only fourth as much as it now
costs to grow the 500 bushels on
twenty acres. 1t is n very trite thing
to say that the greatest profit lies in