The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28
CORN CULTURE,
As Discussed by E. J. Rowland at the Meet
ing Of the Marion County Agricultural
Society Saturday.

The Marion County Agricultural Society
held their regular meeting at the rooms OF the
State Board of Agriculture saturday. In the
absence OF the President, Vice President
Elisha J. Rowland took the chair and called
the meeting TO order. After the transaction of
considerable routine business connected with
the Society. according to programme, h. j.
Rowland submitted the following essay on
the subject of
CORN CULTURE.
The subject of corn culture embraces so
much that is necessary In the preparation
that is applicable to all the cereals, that shall
not attempt to detail all the operations, but
will assume: First, that the soil Is well
drained second, that Ii is sufficiently rich in
the elements that enter into crop OF corn
With such a soil, plough moderately deep,
(from seven TO nine inchesD II sod ground, as
early as the ground is in condition, but II IL
has been in corn the previous year, the last
half of April is better than earlier, and during
the last week in April or first week IN May;
pulverize Thoroughly and plant as soon as pos
sible after the last narrowing before the weeds
start.
Before marking OF the ground, determine
what kind of corn you will plant. II variety
Is selected which grows a large stalk and
dense foliage, mark of four feet, but If light
foddered variety is selected, three and one half
feet is sufficient. For myself, prefer light
foddered variety. that under favorable cir
cumstances will produce two ears To the stalk,
with a small cob and deep grams; sen, In case
of drought or early frosts in the -, you Will
more surely have sound crop oil corn; out De
bad seed will certainly result in a poor crop,
as 1t is impossible 10 correct this mistake after
il is made.
Planting in this latitude should be done
early In May las 1t is better to risk the 1rosts
70 each hill: If in drills, single grain fifteen
inches apart in the row.
Although the work of preparation and
planting are very i'm pOrtant parts OF the work,
and the selection of seed has a great influence
upon the crop, more failures result from bad
culture than any OF the previous parts OF the
that It. is necessary TO keep the ground free
from weeds and grass, and that IL Is necessary
to do this cheaply, or the cost of the crop will
be increased 10 us, and leave no remunera-
ton for our labor.
After trying very many of the various labor
saving implements for small corn, have
come to the conclusion that the Thomas
smoothing harrow Is the most profitable for
the first working, and equally good for the
second, If your ground is not very free from
weeds, but 20 make ii success you must start
with the weeds before the corn makes its ap-
pearance even as soon as soon as it sprouts,
and may continue its use until the fourth
blade makes Its appearance. 1t positively
will not I'M ure the corn unless trash is permit
ted to accumula and drag beneath the har-
row.
when the third or fourth blade appears, use
the suIky cultivatOr or double shovel with
the bull-tongue next the corn. And repeat
the operation crosswise within week or ten
DAYS IL you can't do 1t sooner. Then suOsu-
tute shovel for the bull-tongue for the rest Of
the season, giving 1T a plougning at intervals
of one week or ten days during the season.
Finally, when the corn Is in tassel, use small
one-horse turning plow, throwing strong
furrow TO the corn, cutting the roots only in
privlng the plant Of the only means OF draw
ing its sustenance from the soil and causing
mass of new rootlets to start, which prevents
the crop from drying up before it is fully
mature, giving increased size to the ear and
increased weight TO the grain.
Having ompieted the cultivation OF the
crop, the manner of harvesting should be con-
sidered, and that should depend upon whether
you have stock sufficient to consume the fOd
der. II you have cut up your corn at the roots
and put In reasonable large shocks, as soon as
the husks are dry enough to prevent mold
ing, bind the shocks tight, and as near the top
as possible let IL remain in this condition I'M
til ii will Keep in the crib; then huSk as soon
as possible; bind the fodder, as you husk, in
bundles, and IL you nave not shelter for It set
1t up and TIE, to remain until needed. II you
have not stock to consume the fodder, let tt
stand, and gather from the stalK as early as 1t
is dry enough 10 crib.
This completes tue routine of growing the
crop, but perhaps it would not be amiss 10 say
something about the most profitable manner
of disposing of the crop or the profits derived
from corn growing.
Assuming that the average crop OF corn Is
fifty bushels per acre and price 80 cents per
bushel and cost of raising is 81, 1t would appear
that we have made a profit of IS per acre for
use OF land, which would be true II it left our
land as fertile as when We planted our crop;
but the chemist tells us we have drawn from
the soil in producing our fifty bushels of corn
forty-five pounds OF nitrogen, worth 80 cents
per pound, or $3.50, and nine pounds of pot
ash. worth So cents, and phosphates worth 81 IS
or ais ST. as the value of the minerals removed
from our capital, which added 10 the cost OF
production, S7. would make SZ2.ol loss, as
against IS profit or sl4 81 clear loss on each acre
produced.
Although such a statement is appalling, 1 do
not doubt that IL is approximately correct, and
that our substance is being rapidly diminished
and that this draft will continue until we are
admonished, as they have been in the older
States, that we muse pursue different man
ner of disposing OF produce; that we must feed
our corn at home and return these valuable
ingredients to the soil for the production of
future crops and sell beef, pork. mutton, wool.
butter, cheese and milk II we expect to make
corn growing profitable, when the price is as
low as at present.
At the conclusion of the above O vote OF
thanks was rendered Mr.. Rowland, and dis
cussIon on the subject followed, which occu-
pied the time until adjournment.