The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-07-26
Cultivation of Corn,-A correspo

Cultivation of COrn.-A correspond
ent of the Scientific american, in writing
of the cultivation of corn, says: June is
the month for cultivating our crops, and
on this process, very much depends.
Whether the hand-hoe or the horse i'm
plement is used, depends on the habits
of the individual, and his facilities; but
the work to be accomplished rests on
other circumstances than those of the
individual. Thus the nature of the corn
r requires that the cultivation should
be deep as possible and close to the
plants as may be, before the bloom.
After the bloom, the ground wants to be
disturbed as little as possible, so that the
growth of the plant may not be interfered
with unnecessarily through the cutting
or breaking of the roots. Hence a horse
hoe is capable of more efficient work than
the hand-hoe, at the first stages of the
crop, or up to the time of bloom, and its
use means increase of crop. Let us
investigate the reasons which underlie
this advice.
If a stalk of corn be taken, just before
the appearance of the tassel or flowing
stalk, and a cross cut made at each Joint,
a small ear of corn will be seen at each
cut, and if carefully dissected, it will be
seen to be perfect in all its parts. If now,
another stalk be taken, a little further
advanced, so that the tassel may be
readily seen, and the same cuts now
made, we shall find no appearance of an
| embryo at the lower joints, but shall find
some at the upper. A third stalk taken
when the tassel is in readiness to bloom,
will show the ears which are to be de-
veloped into the crop, but no others.
This observation, which was repeatedly
verified last year in various fields of
corn, and explained and demonstrated to
many individuals, can receive only the
following Interpretation: Nature has
made provision for an ear of corn at each
Joint of the stalk; but as the stalk devel-
ops, from some unknown reason, the
major number of these embryo ears are
absorbed into the plant, and but one, or
occasionally more, are developed.
Now, if through human interference,
these embryo ears are to be developed
into crop, the requisite action must take
place before the absorption takes place,
in which these ears are present in the
plant to be developed. Theory indicates
that a check to the vegetative luxuriance
of this period, would have an influence in
promoting the prolificacy. Experiment
has shown that root-pruning the plant
does check the growth for a short season,
does prevent in a measure the absorption
of these ears, and does therefore increase
the crop. Hence deep and close cultiva-
ton which r~oot-prunes, and which is ap-
piled before the absorption of these ears
in embryo has taken place, must be bene-
fetal.
This root-pruning idea, originating
with ourselves, is receiving development
in the articles entitled, Anew Theory
of Tillage," and we shall not, therefore,
develop it more fully here; but will only
say that last year we obtained twenty
three ears of corn from one kernel of corn
planted, and also a large increase from a
small area of a field treated compar-
atively. Unfortunately, the excessive
drought of last eason prevented us from
experimenting on a large scale, and in an
excessive and exclusive manner, as we
desired. Yet our garden experiments,
and house results, were of sufficient
promise to carry with them a conviction
that we were working on an untried and
important subject of the most promising
character for practical application.