Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-11
Shall we Manure Corn in the Hill
or Broadcast.

UT bTOiuchbt.
Many farmers use spoonful OF bone
-four TO each hill of corn. This il at
the rate of at least bag or barrel-2OO
pounds-pcr acre. The spoonful can
only help the corn plant while very
young. We should much prefer to SOW
the 200 pounds broadcast. which would
exact an influence upon the plants dur.
ing the entire season. -Rual Neto
Yorker.
4 question of prime importance
connected with the great staple is the
one used as title for this article,
and upon it we have somewhat de-
cided convictions in favor Of the
position taken by our contemporary
as quoted. 1t goes without saying
that whatever benefit corn, or any
other plant, derives from the applica-
ton of fertilizers must he obtained
through its roots, as the roots Of the
corn extend, long before the period
of its ripening comes, 10 every square
inch of the ground occupied, and as
they are sent 10 the most remote dis
tances expressly TO search for and
gather up the food which its rapid
growth and development require, and
as the demands for food supply are
greater and more imperative as the
season advances and its growth in.
creases, il would seem 10 be the part
of wisdom 10 so place the needed
food that the supply may be daily
drawn upon as the plants daily needs
demand. The most and best that
manure placed in the hill can do for
corn is TO aid in getting "a start"
and while under certain condition
this may prove n real and lasting
benefit, and have an effect increasing
the crop TO be harvested in the fall.
we are not clear that this is always
the case. Where the soil is strong
aud rich over the whole of its sur.
face and through its entire depth.
or where liberal amount Of fertil-
izing material in the form of heavy
sod and generous coating Of stable
manure, has been plowcd down, so
that the plant, when started, can find
abundant supplies of nourishmcnt to
enable il TO make a continuous, rapid
growth, this "starting,n by means of
hill manuring, is undoubtedly an ad.
vantage, and possibly the artificial
fertilizer or fine compost generally
used for this purpose will be of as
great benefit to the crop as it would
if applied broadcast. Ifhowever, the
circumstances by which the plant is
surrounded are the reverse Of these
If it Is located on a thin soil, and is
compelled to "scratch for q living"
We should expect very much better
results by scattering whatever ma
nure is to be applied broadcast, and
mixing it as intimately as possible
with the soil, by repeated borrowings,
rollings and cultivatings. If placed
in body, and in easy reach of the
plant, the young roots will find it
at once, and promptly set about de-
livering its riders to the plant for
which they are the authorized pur-
veyers, enabling 1t to make a luxuri.
ant growth, gratifying to the eye of
the beholder, and promising indis.
putable evidence in favor of hill ma.
nuring. So far, so good. Unfortu-
nately, however, the limited supply
placed in the hill is now about ex.
hausted, and the roots will be found
to have contented themselves, in a
measure with the nourishment thus
easily obtained, and to have failed,
because there seemed to be no neces-
sity for II, TO make for themselves a
development corresponding to that of
the plant. Having been "brought
up in the lap of luxury" and "fared
sumptuously every day. they have
not grown to be so vigorous as they
had when compelled to lengthen and
strengthen themselves by the search
for daily food, and are lily prepared
to extract from the comparatively
barren soil upon which they nov