The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-05-07
FARMERS COLUMN.
tsI,roIirIe,, Com.

Every season we arc introduced TO new
varieties of field corn which are claimed to
be superior to oil that have preceded them.
Chief among these prolific kinds is Dlunt's
TeDncsseo White, which is no doubt all TINT
IL claimed for it. II will produce over
hundred bushels to an acre Of land, and has
been known to yield much more. 1t bears
ns many as from three TO seven ears to the
stalk, and must certainly, on tha. account,
he more prolific than any other. But why
do farmers fail 10 realize what they expect
from it, on trial 1t is not because the corn
will not produce heavily, for every stalk Of
1t that grows shows that it is willing to re
wardlhe grower with all that he desires.
The fault is that most farmers, while will
ing and anxious to improve their seed corn,
do not pay proper regard to the conditions
necessary for securing the results sought
after.
0fthe many varieties Of corn known to
Us we are all familiar with the fact of at
least two divisions-whte and yellow. The
the white rredomnates in starch. The fer
tlizer required for the one kind does not
exactly suit the other, thorgh the soil that
produces the yellow will also mature the
white. The transfer OF the seed Of one kind
to distant locality is Just as unnatural MS
the turning Of a Short-horn OK which
has fed on blue grass into a scanty meadow.
It will not thrive and additional feeling is
necessary. Our methods of cultivatng corn
are somewhat time honored, and but few
deviate from the accustomed methods prac
tced in their own immediate sections Ger
tain quantities Of manure, particular periods
OF cultivation and fixed times of harvesting
are rigidly adhered to, and, while improve.
ment is carefully applied TO selecting of seed
the usual habits of planting and working
are not broken.
III the prolific varieties of corn should be
put in the ground as soon as possible after
danger Of frost is over, as they need ns much
growing time as possible, requiring the
whole season TO mature, or account of the
superabundant yield expected. They will
grow at first very lnxuriantly, giving large
yield Of fodder, and throwing out from
three TO seven ears, rs stated. Such ears
will proceed aud do well until "Glling" time,
and then it is seen that, while there are
plen ty of ears, nothing but '"nubbins" will
be the result
Corn is n very gross feeder. It's roots
penetrate in every direction, along the sur.
face, through the lower soil, and downward
directly TO the subsoil. Perfect networks of
roots and rootlets are woven into every inch
OF soil, and grcedily does the plant take up
everything that will serve To act as IFS food
The simple matter Of forming the cob alone
r'quires an amount of potash not easily pro-
erred in some soils. Even the sand Is com.
pelled TO assist it, as silica is one of its chief
nstituents. This is seen in the sharp
glazed edges of the leaf or blade, which Of
ten cuts one like knile, and is, in fact,
glass in certain shape. This, when the
fodder is afterward rottcd for manure, is o
soluble silica for tho succeeding crop.
With the great requirements of our ordi-
nary corn known 10 u.s. on changing it for
some Of the prolifics we should provide for
sustaining the corn in its great struggle Of
"hlling" up three or more cars instead of
one; and this should not only he done by
extra manuring at the beginning but an nd-
ditional feed" should be added lust before
the ears "silk." Too much fertilizer cannot
be applied, for corn is plant that is seldom
injured by oyer-manuring. Another fact is
that certain varieties Of corn suit particular
soils, and no prolific corn or any other kind
will do well in some sections until after ac-
olimated, which mayrequire several seasons.
In Delaware they haye, in one portion Of
the State, corn especially adapted to that
region, and while other varieties introduced
there, and grown by its side, often produce
more, the cold standard" gets over droughts
bad cultivation and other drawbacks far
better than its rivals; and yrt this Delaware
o''n might not suit at all in this State. Per-
haps no new seed corn will stand the change
from one section to another and do very
well at the start; still it is certain that we
get splendid results by changing seed. Re.
cent experiments, however, have demon
strated that instead of changing seed entire
ly, crossing The seed is better, which is done
by planting it by the side of the old variety.