The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-02-18
NUMBER 1855

corn roots, and in no condition to re-
ceive the seed. There are other ways,
some fair and of others doubtful expe-
diency. The successes we hear pro-
claimed, the failures are quietly kept
back out Of sight. Farmers, be not
deceived, there is no patent or short
hand process, by which mother earth
can be made To yield her richest treas
urers. Ii is only by industry. aided
by intelligence, observation and exper-
ience, that We can succeed.
coRN-KISDs AND CULTIvArIos-BY HON.
G. d. LUCE, OF JEFFERSON.
Never having practiced making polit-
ical or any kind Of speeches, or even
holding discussion of any kind in
public, l was little surprised to see
my name announced in the papers, by
the executive committee having the
charge Of this institute, to prepare a
paper for this occasion. They could
have easily made better selection.
"Corn, kinds and cultivation, !" is the
subject selected for me, by the com
mittee, upon which to write and read an
article, On this occasion. There are a
great many varieties of maize, OF In
dian corn. Some kinds are suitable
for one latitude. and some for another.
but all are good in their season aud
place. There is kind of yellow flint
corn, known as six weeks corn, desira-
BILE only as an early corn, is an excel
lent corn for table use, as it comes ear
lier than other kind. Stowell's ever
green sweet corn. is later variety, and
l think is the best OF all kinds for the
table use, it coming later in the season.
/ never raise sweet corn as a field crop,
only for the use Of the table.
There are several kinds of pop corn.
| care so little about popped corn, that
seldom ever use il, and never raise it.
consequently, / cannot recommend
any one variety as being superior to
another.
As field crop, have tried several
kinds OF flint corn, viz: white flint,
dutton, and the yellow smut nose.
have planted the flint corn and the
dent corn in the same field, and culti-
vated both alike. In dry hot weather
the flint corn would wilt, and the leaves
would roll badly; at the same time the
dent would be growing nicely, and not
seem 10 be affected by the drouth at
all. Consequently, / quit raising the
fiLt corn, and raise only the dent.
/ have raised the blackberry, which
is An excellent corn, with only one OBJ
lection, it is hard on the hands when
husking. L have tried a yellow Dent
corn, brought from Kentucky. but it
would not ripen in this latitude, the
season being too short.
OF all the different kinds that / have
tried, 1 prefer either the white or the
yellow Dent, with q medium sized cob
aud long kernels, that will ripen the
last OF August. Dent corn, with long
cob and short kernels, think is poor
kind of corn to raise.
Cultivation. Never pillow the ground
when il is too wet, but pillow as early in
the spring as practible, after the ground
becomes dry aud is in proper condi-
tion to cultivate, make the surface as
mellow and fine as possible with the
cultivator or harrow. / am not pre-
pared 10 say which is the best way to
plant corn, whether in hills or in drills.
l always plant in hills, / mark the
apart each way, for Dent corn. For
several years l have used a planter TO
save time, that would plant two rows
at once, but / would prefer planting
with the hoe, if it could be done as
fast. / would recommend dragging or
narrowing the ground, after planting,
and before the corn comes up. IL dis
turbs the weeds that would come up
about the same time or before the corn,
which gives the corn a chance to get
the start of the weeds. AS soon as the
corn is up nicely, so that the rows can
be followed, start the horse and culti-
vator. For several years / have used
two horse wheel eultiyator. Ii can be
used when the corn is small, by put
ting on guards TO prevent the dirt from
covering up the corn. When the corn
is larger remove the guards, and You
can continue 10 use il until the corn IL
two feet high. For n one horse culti-
vator, l prefer the double shovel plow
TO all others. Corn should be culti-
waited often enough 10 keep the ground
mellow and clean from weeds.
To raise good crop OF corn, several
things are essential, viz, good rich
mellow ground, good seed, not planted
too early, but as soon as the ground
becomes warm and dry. The richer
the ground, the more thrifty and vigor-
ous will be the growth OF weeds, and
the greater the necessity for thorough
cultivation, as you cannot raise a good
crop Of corn and crop OF weeds, on
the same ground at the same time.
Weeds Will grow without cultivation,
but corn needs thorough cultivation.
The ground is always psrched more or
less after heavy rain, aud should be
stirred as soon as il becomes dry, so as
TO work up mellow, There is no rule
As 10 the number Of times corn should
be cultivated. But cultivate often
enough to keep the ground mellow and
free from weeds, otherwise you must
expect poor crop, or be disappointed
IL you expect a good one. Three or
four stalks in hill is all that should
be allowed TO grow. / think more
corn can be raised from three stalks in
a hill than from five or six, or greater
number, aud il is quicker and easier
harvested, and great deal larger aud
nicer ears.
Wednesday evening Prof. Beal, Of
the Agricultural College, delivered an
interesting lecture on Improved
Grains, Fruits and Vegetables. :"
(coSTISUED on NEXT PAGE.)