Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-12
Planting the Corn Crop.

". 1. " Oflu.
The soil for corn must be dry, rich
and iriable. Neither strong clay, wet
nor poor land will fill bins TO overflow
ing. Soils are rarely too rich for corn,
and, generally speaking, the plant will
bear almost any amount OF manure.
Still there is such a thing as feeding be-
yond its necessities, and thereby Undue.
ing rank growth OF stalk at the expense
of the grain. A clover lay or rich grass
sod is an excellent preparation for this
cereal, many farmers contending that a
clover sod two or three years old is, all
things considered, the very best ground
for the corn crop. Where manure is re-
uuired il is advised to scatter it broad
cast and pillow and harrow it in. II
thoroughly incorporated in the soil the
roots are certain to take it up and the
development of ears and grain will cor
respond with that of stalk and leaves,
which is not liable to be the case when
in the hill or drill only. The practice
ON poor soils Of manufing in the hill in.
duces an early start it is true, and an
early start is great point gained; but
as the roots extend and find little or no
nourishlnent, the plant fails to make
good its early promise and q disappoint-
ment awaits the planter in the defcien-
cy OF grain.
To gain paying results from the en-
ployment of stimulating elements in
hill or drill, available plant food must
be near at hand in sufficient quantity
to carry the plant once started on to its
perfect growth.
Fall and spring blowing have their
merits, and consequently their advo-
Gates, Fall blowing has been repeated
ly urged in these columns where there
is present an abundance of vegetable
matter md when there is danger from
cut-wOrms. Tho time for planting
varies, OF course, with latitude, and
after that, much depends upon the
weather. While corn will terminate in
cold earth, it will not flourish, therefore
the futility of planting until the days
are mild and the ground warm and dry.
The old Indian rule, still observed on
some farms, is, when the oak leaves
are grown to the size OF a squirrels foot,
plant corn"
Not few OF our best farmers cling to
hand planting and hoe culture in hills,
but they are in the minority. 1t is gen.
orally conceded that the largest crops
are grown in drills, and for extended
fields corn planters and cultivators are
adopted
Flat culture, excepting for compact
soils and such as are inclined to be wet,
is each year gaining additional recruits,
for no other method compares with 1t
in the matter OF saving labor. While
corn thrives best after deep blowing in
most soils, the seeds ought never TO be
dropped deep or covered too thickly,
two inches being all sufficient and more
than many farmers allow in mellow
ground. The distance OF planting de-
ponds on the variety OF seed, large grow
ing kinds requiring more space than the
small.
The cultivation OF corn comes next in
importance to the selection OF the seed
and should begin so soon as the corn is
up and cease when it is in tassel.
Cultivated at first deep, but shallow
subsequently; this not only subiues
weeds and grass and keeps the ground
in good filth, but checks an exuberant
growth OF stalks and leaves. While
root-pruning has failed as yet to con-
vince the majority OF farmers, they gem
orally believe that the largest develop
ment OF grain is not gained from the
tsllest Of stalks. Under the prevalent
mode OF cultivation suckering is often
dispensed with; indeed, the idea is be-
ing more and more universally enter
tanned that when grain is the object
suckering is TO be avoided, and vice
versa where growth OF the stalk is desir-
ed.