Smyrna times., 1878-05-08
.ag2'IcvL1xTUI.
Soil Culture.

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the subject of ploughing and the benefits
accruing from thorough soil culture or
keeping the earth in pulverulent condi-
ton to the proper depth, and for the
period of time in which the crop was in a
growing condition.
We come now to consider the subject in
its immediate effect upon the growing |
crops. There are some crops to which we |
give clean culture, and others for which |
we only prepare the soil and SOW the seed, |
leaving them to mature the best they can |
under the circumstances. Of the former, !
that of corn is the most important one to |
the farmers of the Delaware Peninsula.
In the cultivation of the growing crop, the |
preparation of the soil should be in accor-
nance with the principles stated in our
last. In narrowing or ploughing the work
should be most thoroughly done while the
plants are small or before the roots spread
too far from the stock. AT this stage the
ground should be cultivated as deeply as
the surface plough went, and the soil to
this depth should be kept thoroughly
pulverized If the soil is heavy, and a
dashing rain followed by hot sun balzes it
hard, so that the harrow teeth will not
readily enter it, then the plough should be
again brought into requisition. 1t is i'm
possible for the plants to grow to the best
advantage unless the soil is kept in this
powdered condition, and the means re-
quisite must be used, let them be harrows,
hoes, ploughs or steam engine tiukes. The
ground must be kept " mellow"
Another important service rendered the
growing plants, first mentioned by US six
years ago, is "rOot pruning" This is effect
ed by the implements used in cultivating
the soil. The harrow, the plough and the
hoe While the plants are young, they
bear this treatment not only well, but de-
rive great advantage from it in the in
crease of roots resulting. When one root
is cut off, from two to four shoot out from
the stump and take its place, and thus the
feeding power of the plant is increased
from two to four fold. 1t is important that
this process should not be performed too
often or too severely, except when the
plants are very young. Until the young
corn is six to ten inches high there is no
danger from this cause, and it may be
thoroughly, plowed narrowed or hoed, on
all sides, and all around until it is this
height. After this the root pruning pro-
cess must be more carefully guarded, OIL
you will greatly stun and injure the growth
of the plant and lessen the production oi
grain. Corn severely narrowed or plougheo
on both sides, and especially with the
latter process, done with the bar side O.
the plough to the plants, so that the eartE
is thrown away from them, and straight
side Of the implement cuts clean to the
stalk, may be severely injured and the
growth stopped, in consequence of the too
severe root pruning. Such treatmen
after the plants are ten inches high, anC
the roots consequently pretty well extended
from the hill may almost run the crop
The liability to injure the crop by thi
treatment increases with the age and siz
Of the plants; so that toward the last o
the season great care is requisite to pre-
vent the implement cutting too deepl
near the hill of corn.
The main rules for corn culture are,
FIrSt-Plant on a deep, mellow soil, tn
richer the better.
.Second-Keep the earth in a thorough
pulverized condition until the stalks begi
to tassel, and then cease cultivation.
THird-While the stalk is small, cult
vate deeply and we'll close to the hill. A
the plants grow larger, cultivate alternat
rows every week, so as to avoid too sever
root pruning. By this method the root
which you have cut on one side this weel
will be restored for the support of the plant
when you prune them on the other sid
the alternate week.
The same general principles will appl
to all crops to which we usually give clea
culture, and we believe also to most
those which we are in the habit Of CROWN
without cultivation, except to prepare II
soil and SOW the seed. Experiments al
now in progress all over the country upc
wheat, and so far it looks as though
would be demonstrated that wheat Gull
vated will produce much larger crops tha
when raised in the ordinary way. In a
crops it is important to cease the cultiv
tion,. and consequently the root prunir
process, at the proper time; and this,
well treated crops, is rather earlier ths
we have heretofore considered it proper
stOp.-Mlford Nevs.