The Portland daily press., 1877-09-19
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Profitable Corn Growing,

HVhtabhC Coru UrOWt1R.
The average yield of the corn crop is about
~ bushels per acre for the whole country.
This includes the large yield of the rich
prairie states where an average of 40 to 30
k...shels per acre is usual. In the Eastern,
Middle, and Southern States, the yield is
very low and on the whole does not surpass
Is bushels per acre. Yet in isolated cases in
these states many good farmers produce 70,
80, or even 100 bushels per acre, and MANY
ambitious farmers are trying to reach a
higher limit yet. This is not at all impos-
sible; it is not even improbable. 1t is reason
able to 60 further and say that this very high
yield is not at all difficult to attain. Indeed
it is very easy to figure out crop of 100
bushels of shelled corn per acre, and we do
not think it much less easy to reduce the fig
sring to practice. Thus if we can grow
three stalks to hill, with the hills three and
half feet apart, we have $500 hills and H.
100 stalks per acre. If every stalk should
per acre. One hundred good ears weighing
II ounces each would give one bushel OF
shelled corn. Therefore this crop would
amount to Ill bushels per acre. The only
requisite tor this profitable crop then, is that
we should raise variety of corn that pro-
duces no barren stalks and that will carry one
good ear only upon every stalk. This seems
a very simple matter, but many farmers
would be- surprised to learn how small a pro-
portion of stalks in their fields carry even one
ear. 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 reach
ing 100 bushels per acre if only
fertile stalks are grown, yet farm
ers look upon one who talks of such crop as
too enthusiastic, if not foolish. 1t seems as
though we adEbeen all this time pursuing
a wrong idea, or following a wrong course,
and neglectlng the most palpable and plain
path to success. 1t is not to fertilize our
ground so richly as to grow luxuriant stalks
with two or three ears each in place of one /:
but TO grow moderately sized stalks, each
having an ear in place of those with none.
In passing through fair looking field of
corn number OF stalks without ears will al
waps be seen. 1t is these that dilute and les
sen sthe value Of the crop. Can we get rid
of these by any means? It is certainly our
business to do it if possible, just as we should
weed out our yard hens which lay no eggs.
sows which produce no filters, cows without
calves or milk, and mares witout foals: or
cut out from our orchards trees that pield no
fruit. As no farmer would tolerate such
worthless stock so he should not tolerate
barrenness in his cornfield. Among other
many useful suggestions made by DR.. E. L.
Sturtevant, of Massachusetts, who is one OF
our most tcientiic and practical farmers and
agricultural investigators, we owe to him an
idea that we think may be turned to the
greatest advantage in improving our corn
crops. 1t is to change the present character
of this grain by course of selection and
breeding similar to that through which we
have brought our live stock to such a degree
of profitable excellence. 1t is simply to dis
continue the growing of barren stalks and
prevent them from fertilizing the seed of the
prolific ones. To do this, all those stalks
which shows no sign of an ear or silk (which
Is the female fower) when the tassel or male
flower appear, should be topped so as to de-
prive them of their powers of reproduction,
should be emasculated in fact. We should
lose nothing by this, because we should at
least have the fodder, which is all we should
get under any circumstance, but we should
have the very importnt advantage of fertiliz-
ing the other plants with pollen fEom prolific
stalks. Hence, we might expect il a very
short time to so change the character and
habits of the corn as to have every plant
prolific and productive of at least one ear.
If in time we could give the plant the
habit of bearing twin ears, or three, four OF
more; and by the 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 800 bushels would cost no
more than it now costs to grow five acres
yielding 100 bushels, excepting the increased
labor of husking and storing the ears, and
only fourth as much as it now costs to
grow the 500 bushels on 20 acres. It is a
very trite thing to say that the greatest profit
lies in producing the greatest yield with the
least possible labor and expense; yet farmers
do not seem to look at 1t in this
way, or at least they are contented with
very small profits, for it is plain to be seen
that the small crops grown do not paw any
adequate price for the labor of raising them.
And to spend ones labor in growing SO bar.
rem corn stalks out of every 100 we grow.
seems, unquestionably, to bea very poor bust.
ness. We hope our readers will give this
matter the thought and attention it deserves,
There is nothing to lose by adopting the
means Of improvement proposed, and there
is a vast gain possible from it.-N. Y. Times
TranspIanting Trees.
If two trees are set out in the spring, and 8
drouth follows, one of them, having the sol
tightly trodden around 1t, will probably live
the other, having the roots merely covered
with loose, fine soil, will probably die; water
ing and mulching will scarcely welt. This
fact should impress the lesson that in trans.
planting, each little rootlet should come into
close contact with the soil, and that compact
soil retains moisture much longer than when
very loose and porous. Stir the surface, that
is certainly proper, but firm the soil around
the roots, especially just after removal. The
gardener who pots plants firmly will have
better success than he who throws the soil in
loosely, and he who presses the soil over his
bed of seeds will find a surer reward than he
who rests content with merely covering il
with fine earthly. Y. Tribune.