The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-15
L
Corn Planting.

one Tor the farmer, Tor IL is now tua'
all bis which be may have formed fol
the years cropping will necessitate
immediate action. The extreme mild
winter and spring with which we
have been favored has no doubt ena'
bled most farmers to make considera-
bic progress in their preparations fol-
their corn crop, and, more especially,
to have plowed their land for the re
ception of the seed; but if this has
not as yet been accomplished, there
should nov be no delay, as the work
should be pressed forward with all
diligence. The ground, however,
should never be broken up wet, espe-
cially clay lands. 1t should be thor
oughly broken up with a good pillow
from six to eight inches IN depth,
varying according to the quality OF
the soil. The ground should be pull
verified before planting, and the har-
row used freely whilst the ground ie
fresh. The finest and best cultivated
land in Eastern Virginia, on the
James river, are plowed from twelve
to fourteen inches. Mr.. A. III. Drew
~, who owns the celebrated West
over estate, in reply to an inquiry
from Mr.. Watt, the plow maker OF
Richmond, saws: 81 think it may
be accurately stated that many plo~'
men 60 from twelve to fourteen inch
es deep on the river fields, where the
soil will admit, 10 the winter months,
for corn, etc, and upon the bacs
fields from ten to twelve inches
The roots of the corn plant spread
out to a great breadth aud depth,
and ii is necessary for their full feed
ing that the hard pan shall not stop
their progress in search of food,
which is taken up in he spongioles
at the end Of the roots, from which
the plant receives it's nourishment.
Planting should be commenced a.
soon as the SUI has shown sufficient
power to warm the ground sufficient
ly 10 receive the seed; and the sooner
it comes up after planting the more
rapid and vigorous will be the
growth.
This crop requires rich food, and il
is a voracious feeder. 1t will more
readily appropriate the ranker kind:
of food than almost any other OF our
cultivated crops. Its demands are
for all the materials which are found
in domesticated plants, its ash being
peculiarly rich in potash, soda, phos
phoric acid and lime. OF all manure;
for corn none excels in efficiency good
stable or barnyard or vel
rotted composts. OF the latter, we
hope our readers will be availed o.
the suggestions we have made during
the winter to supply themselves witt
the materials to furnish an ample
supply of food the most suitable fol
their crop. In addition TO the man
ure spread broadcast (which cannot
be dispensed with, as the roots will
soon push forth beyond the bills il
which the seed may have been de
posited(, some concentrated fertilizer
should be furnished in close connec
ton with the seed, and for this pur
pose we would name superphosphates
wood ashes, plaster, salt and her
manure. Care should be taken, how
ever, in supplying these, so that they
are not brought in direct contact witt
the seed.
The addition to your broadcast ap
~plicstion of the home made manure
(of, say. one hundred pounds of bone
dust, or superphosphates, or guano,
one bushel OF plaster aud two of salt,
will tell in the crop, aud we are sat
isfed that this admixture of the Or.
ganic with the inorganic manures i;
far more effective than the application
of the same quantity of either separ
ate. Cases in point have come un
der our notice in the report of the
Commissioner of Agriculture il
Georgia, one of which We cannot
omit giving-that Of Judge Turner
viz:
dissolved bone applied alone a.
the rate of 200 pounds per acre yield:
only 6I2 pounds per acre while the
same, composted with stable manure
and cotton seed and 200 pounds o.
the compost applied per acre, yield:
l,00S pounds seed cotton per acre
Thus, by the addition of $50 pounds
of stable manure and cotton seed
mixed to 80 pounds of the dissolved
bone, the yield ia nearly double thai
from 200 pounds of high grade am.
nominated superphosphates."
The use of salt as a fertilizer fol
corn is recommended, not only as q
manure, but also as a destroyer OF in'
seets. A handful in the bill of q
mixture composed OF five bushels O
ashes, one each of salt and plaster
and fifty pounds of bone dust, will
probably be found about the bes,
that can be applied.
The distance Of planting and The
mode, whether 10 drills or in hills,
depends, Of course, much upon the
nature Of the soil, the kind of seed
and the judgment of the cultivator.
But the closer the planting the besv.
Ter must be the manuring, both
broadcast and in the hill. Select the
best and soundest corn for seed. AS
soon as planting is done commence
cultivation, so as to destroy effectual.
ly all young grass and weeds, also
to keep the ground loose. In SO do
ing it more readily receives the
warmth of the sun, and the growth
of the corn is thereby FASTENED.
An experienced cultivator of corn
recommends that the first culture
should be done with a two-sorse har
row having fve-eighth teeth, and
continue TO harrow until the corn i.
out of the ground, driving the team
outside Of the rows. This operation
prepares the ground SO as TO be clean
Of weeds aBd grass, and leaves it in
q nice and p~ulverised condition. In
q short time after narrowing tbe
young corn can be seer all over the