Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-08
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

| DAISY.
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
How TO GROW A BIG CROP OF
CoRN.-A Western farmer writes =
Like produces like" with seed as with
animals. One can not therefore pro-
duce large crop of corn from seed that
has been used to grow amongst num-
ber of barren stalks. Where five stalks
have grown in hill and but one has
borne an ear, that corn is useless for
seed. Seed should be selected from
crop where each stalk bears a. least one
ear, and if there is an attempt at two, if
it be only in the shape of husk with
out even a nubbin, the ear from that
stalk should be chosen. This habit of
shooting out ears at the joint may be
encouraged ia this way, and varieties
with stalks producing several ears have
thus been originated. But unless the
seed has been selected with care it is in
vain to expect large yield of corn
The seed Is the first requisite. The soil
is the next. Too rich soil is not pro-
life of grain. Enormous stalks often
appear with the smallest nubbins, or
only moderate ears. Excessive manur-
ing will not hslp the yield of grain so
much as the production of foliage. The
popular method of planting corn on a
clover sod may not be advisable in all
cases. This is an Eastern practice and
is disregarded in the West 1t grows
out of the necessity fer some auxiliary
fertilizing by rotation of crops, the pre-
vention of weeds, and the saving of la
bor in cultivation; an Eastern farm be-
ing unable to grow weeds and corn both.
We have come to that now in the West,
although we follow wheat with corn, or
corn with corn and do not depend
much upon breaking up q sod for this
crop. 1t may be question if it is not
wiser to carefully nurse sod and try to
get more permanent meadow than we
usually have, rather than break it up so
frequently. But to grow good crop of
corn it is not necessary to turn under q
sod. Stubble land will produce a heavy
crop If it is rich enough in the right sort
of fertilizers, and is kept free from weeds.
Where the soil is not in good condition
manuring is necessary; to put the ma
nure in the hill or drill, is the best
method. The crop then gets its food
when and where it needs it the most.
An early start is the great point. One
ear may be matured on stalk with
late start, but to mature the secondary
ears and give them their full growth, it is
impossible unless the crop makes q start
from the first and keeps it up. If we
use only small quantity of manure in
the hill to start the plant and the roots
have then to grOpe several inches, or
feet, away into the soil for food, time is
lost and the crop is sacrificed. No after
start can make up for this lost time
An excellent fertilizer to start the
growth is good handful of mixed peuI-
try manure, wood ashes and plaster
This old-fashioned fertilizer has in it all
that the modern formulas provide-ni-
trogen, phosphoric acid, potash and
lime; and the useful effect upon the soil
in chemical way, of these materials, as
well. But there must be something else.
If stimulating fertilizers are used in the
hill or drill, manure must be provided
outside and near at hand to furnish food
as soon as the former have been ex-
hausted. So that there should be either
q bountiful prov isiOn of manure in the
hill or drill and a good dressing of solu-
BILE fertilizer ia the soil outside of those,
or Uice Uers0. Either will answer the
purpose required.
WHAT GARDEN HAVE YOU?-The
best paying plot on any farm, and the
one yielding the most enjoyment, toe,
Is the Vegetable Garden-or "Kitchen
as it is frequently called, and
quite appropriately, especially when the
Kitchen folks" have the chief or sole
care of it. A good supply of garden
products for the table costs less than the
standard bread, meat, and pc atoes, i3
more healthful and nourishing than all
corn beef, salt pork, and the small as
sortment usually found on the farmers
table. Need we add anything about
comfort, home enjoy
ment? Contrast table set nearly the
year round with bread, salt pork. cOrned
beef, potatoes, boiled cabbags, varied,
with hash, mush, buckwheats, and oc-
few other items, with ta-
BILE well supplied in succession and
with Asparagus, Green
Peas, Lima Beans, String Beans, Sweet
Corn, Radishes, Carrots, Beets, Pars-
nips, Celery, Satisfy, Turnips, Cauli-
flower, Spinach, Lettuce, Egg Plants,
Tomatoes (all the year,, Rhubarbs, Ok
ra, Squashes, Onions, Cabbage, Cucum-
bers (?), and other things,-filled in with
Currants, Strawberries, Raspberries,
not to mention GraTe es,
Pears. etc. We do not accept the stand
ing excuse, II am too poor. too hard
driven, too much to do in my fields, to
bother with the garden" We repeat,
'0ath emphasis, that every farmer can
have most, If not all, the above pleasant
and healthful variety with less labor and
,ess eTpense than the table can be sup
piled in any other way. Every DAYS
work in the garden will produce several
dollars worth Of good things. One
quarter OF an acre, more or less, accord
ing to the size Of the family, will suffice.
Select the best soil available, as near the
house as possible, but at distance if alb
necessary. A good leam where
water never stands is desirable.
clay will not do well without a
good deal of preparation. If not natu-
rally dry, undertaking is desirable.
but even ali open ditch around the plot
and one Or two through it if needed.
may answer for the present. Plow and
harrow fine, working in a liberal SUM-
ply of the best we'll rotted manure that
can be obtained-half wagon load on
every square rod will be ali the better.
but much less can be got along WITH
The directions for planting, cultivation.
etc., are given in our Hints for Work. u
from time to time, beginning back to
the February number. For the best va
rieties of vegetables, see article on page
81 of March number.-Frona American
Agriculturist for April.
For breeding of grades, none but good
stock-getting bulls should be used. This
is point that too much stress cannot
be urged upon breeders of grade stock
whether fer milk, work or the shambles,