The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-11
sProlihc" Corn.


Every season we are introduced to new
varieties of field corn which are claimed to
. be superior to all that have preceded them.
Chief among these prolific kinds is Blunt's
Tennessee white, which is no doubt all that
is claimed for it. 1t will produce over hun
bred bushels to an acre of land, and has
been known to yield much more 1t bears
as many as from three to seven ears to the
stalk, and must certainly, on that account.
be more prolific than any other. But why
do farmers fail TO realize what they expect
from it. on trial? 1t is not because the corr
will not produce heavily, for every stalk of
it that grows shows that it is willing to re-
ward the 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.
OF the many varieties of corn known to
us we are all familiar with the fact of at
least two diyisions-white and yellow The
yellow is richer in carbon, or rather OIL
while the white predominates in starch
Fhe fertilizer required for the one kind does
not exactly suit the other, though the soil
that produces the yellow will also mature
the white. The transfer of the seed of one
kind to a distant locality is just as I'M
natural as the turning of Short-hOrn OK
which has fed on blue grass into Scanty
meadow. 1t will not thrive, and additional
feeding is necessary. Our methods of cult
waiting corn are somewhat time-honored
and but few deviate from the accustomed
methods practiced in their own immediate
sections. Certain quantities of manure
fparticular periods of cultivation and fixed
times of harvesting are rigidly adhered to (:
and, while improvement is carefully ap-
piled to selecting of seed. the usual
habits of planting and working are not
broken.
All the prolific varieties of corn should be
put in the ground as soon as possible after
danger of frost is over, as they need as
much growing time as possible, requiring
the whole season to mature on account of
the superintendent yield expected They
will grow at first very luxuriantly giving a
large yield of fodder, and throwing out
a from three to seven ears, as stated. Such
ears will proceed and do well until filling
time and then it is seen that, while there
are plenty of ears, nothing but ''nubbins''
will be the result.
Corn is a very gross feeder. Its roots
penetrate in every direction, along the
. surface, through the lower soil, and down
! ward directly to the subsoil. Perfect net
works of roots and rootlets are woven into
every inch of soil, and greedily does the
4 plant take uD everything that will serve to
1 act as its food. The simple matter of form
ing the cob alone requires an amount OF
potash not easily procured in some soils.
Even the sand is compelled to assist il, as
silica is one of its chief constituents This
is seen in the snarp-glazed edges of the Leaf
or blade, which often cuts one like knife
and is, in fact, glass in certain shape
This, when the fodder is afterward rotted
for manure, is soluble silica for the sue.
ceeding crop.
With the great requirements of our ordi-
nary corn known to US, on changing it fol
some of the prolifics we should provide fol
sustaining the corn in its great struggle Of
filling" up three or more ears instead o
one; and this should not only be done by
extra manuring at the beginning but ad
ditional feed should be added just before
, the ears silk" Too much fertilizer car
not be applied, for corn is a plant that i
seldom injured by over-manuring- Anothe
fact is that certain varieties of corn suit par
|. ticular soils, and no prolific corn or an.