Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-03-19
FARM AND FIRESIDE,
Corn Culture.
CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS.
CONRAD WILSON.


Success in corn culture depends on
conditions that are not only numerous
but very important; and the more
clearly the farmer understands them.
the more. easily and surely will he be
able to comply with them, and to win
the prizes they hold out. The leading
questions that enter into the final yield
and profit of corn are;
l. The natural fertility Of the soil.
2. Tie question OF fertilizers and
manures.
3. The various problems of hllage.
4. The variety of grain planted.
5. The question ofpedigree. 4
6. The distance in planting, etc.
Each of these has an influence on the
crop much greater than most Of us
perceive, and helps TO determine not
only the yield, but also the quality and
the cost. Yet it is amazing how many
practical men lose sight Of nearly all
these factors, aud rest their hope Of
maximum yield on giving special at
tention to a few leading conditions BY
which the profit is supposed to be
mainly determined. %s.
THE Road 70 SUCCESS.
One mauy pls-. gives great
attention to slss ssssb aps Estle heed
TO ANYTHING else. A1ctBer IS air en-
crossed with the problems Of tllage,
and discovers but little value in the
other factors. \ third attaches ex-
ceptonal importance to the variety of
the grain. or the question of pedigree.
and so on to the end Of the catalogue.
But rarely do we meet with the farmer
who is wise enough to divide his at
tention fairly between all the essential
conditions that belong1o a maximum
crop. Yet it is entirely true. and not
to be denied, that very fair results are
often reached, even in spite of lmpor-
tant factors having been overlooked,
and it is also true and still more re-
markable, that among all the corn pro
duets vet. recorded, there is not a single
case IN which all the elements Of sue
cess are included or even Osnized.
This fact is exceedingly suggestive,
and teaches some useful lessons. And
especially il teaches in what direction
we are to box for progress hereafter.
1.-THE largest yield aud lowest cost Of
yet reached by the foremost farmers are
the result OF merely limited and partial
attention to the true conditions, while
many essential factors have been
neglected, what may we not expect
from the coming farmer, when all the
conditions Of success win be more
clearly perceived and more perfectly
worked out. Does not this view help
to explain the strange contrast often
witnessed between the present average
Of corn production and the higher re-
suits frequently reached BY practical
farmers; and does it not tend to show
how the possibilities realized by the lat
ter may yetbecOms the average yield
Of the coontrs? H CO. u eNlfl@--
1t IS gratifying to notice, that more
rational views, than formerly, are now
held in regard to maximum crops
While rejecting men. an one hand, do
not claim that except NAL yields OBJ
tanned on fractional areas OF land, are |
in ally sense. far test for entire acres,
so, on The other hand, practical farmers
no longer claim that their own ex-
perience is the necessary limit OF pro-
duction. They frankly admit that
larger yields are often obtained by
those who comply Ttb the essential con-
aaions. Farmers Of this class hesitate
to accept accounts Of unusual yields
without vigorous proof but when thus
proved they admit them at their true
value, as exceptions TO a general rule.
In this they are right +; for it sometimes
happens that too much is claimed for
a maximum yield. ..- ,-.
fla man with persistent energy, and
favorable conditions succeeds IN getting
$50 bushels Of corn per acre. with also
aredsetion ofeOst, even ifhe does not
follow that all ythers can do the sane,
or even That iehiniself can repeat =
Yet it is,none the less, 4 grand achieve
ment, and stands out as an evidence Of
wha: may be accomplished. If timed
men get alarmed, or discouraged by
sucll evidences Of progress, that is their
own fault, but not at all a reason
why successful men should suppress
their triumphs. or conceal valuable
facts from the public. Earnest farmers
Of true fiber and pluck always find in
such conspicuous examples and inspi l
ration that animates their efforts. and
imPels them toward. !
Let me now refer briefly 10 fell ex-
amples tending to illustrate the nam ]
question in hand which is the impor-
lance of all the factors thet belong to
yield. o. -u
.r,r. DISTANCE TX, PLANTING. r.. In
The crop Of 100 bushels per acre, c
raised many years since by Jesse Buel; ii
he yield of l32 bushels resulting from c
IN experiment by Samuel Chidscy of f
Cayuga Co., n. Y; the remarkable T.
product ofl6O bushels per acre obtained o