The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-08-23
Increasing the Corn Crop.

anu WIN SEW JUST 10 UlSHt'
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Increasing the Corn Crop.
Till within the past few years little
anxiety has been felt in any part of the
country about the supply Of corn. There
was "A general impression that IL could
be raised with considerable profit In
IN nearly every State and territory. In
mo I OF the States enough was raised to
supply the local demand. In some
states ii was a cIdin2 crop, nnd-it was
that itS profitable production could he
greatly extended in others, where the
attention Of farmers was mainly devoted
to The growing Of cotton, tobacco, and
the small grains. There was scarcely
any demand for 1t for expectation, and
It's employment for making glucose and
starch was not known. II was used TO
a considerable extent rs food for human
beings, and was very generally employ
cd Tor Iallcnlng hOg, in sections where
II was extensively grown. twas rarely
fed TO other horses than those engaged
in work on the farm, and was still more
rarely fed TO cows. There was ne fresh
beef or mutton sent abroad, aud there
was only u limited demand for highly
fattcnod meat a. home. As n cOnsc.
quencc, sheep and steers were gcncr-
ally fattcncd on grass, with the aid of n
few roots. In mo,tof the Western States
corn was drug in the markets. With
poor facilities tor transportation, com.
paratiycly little Of it was sent to Eas-
tern cities. Cora WIS often 90 CHEAP
and plenty that it was burned for fuel.
Farmers preferred TO raise small grains
for the market, for the reasons that
their price was higher and they would
stand transportation better In parts
of the country where corn was very pro-
ductivc it was generally thought that
the business of raising it was greatly
Uvcrdone
\ short time has been sufficient TO
produce great changes in relation TO
corn. las uses have multiplied and
increased, it is now employed to make
starch and glucose, rs well rs to make
alcohol, whisky, highwncs and vinegar.
Considerable quantities of it are con-
vcrtcd into malt. In all the great dairy
districts it is extensively employed for
feeding mich cows. There is grow
ing demand for fancy fattcncd beef and
mutton for export aud home consump-
ton. To faiten steers and sheep as the
market requires it is found necessary to
feed corn in large quantities. Vast
quantities OF ii are now sent to almost
every country in Europe this side of
Russia for the same purpose. American
corn IS used b. feed both beef and dairy
cattle in Denmark. II is also used 10
feed the coach and dray horses in most
ol the large cities in Great Britain and
France. Now, while the uses for corn
have increased and multiplied in most
remarkable manner, its cultivation has
not extended in any considerable extent
into any new sections of the country,
and has not greatly increased in foreign
countries. The entire country from
Puget Sound to the Gulf of California is
opened up TO settlement, but no corn is
raised except in n very few favored
localities Dakota and Montana are
fast being peoplod with farmers, yet
scarcely any corn is or can be produced
there. Few of what are called the new
States and Territories produce much
corn. They are deficient in warmth or
moisture, or in both. Corn was never
profitable crop to raise in the Southern
States, and rs the soil becomes
exhausted OF its fertility its production
becomes still more difficult People
have finally become convinced that tho
extent of country adapted to the
profitable production of corn is quite
limited. II is embraced in n strip of
country about two hundred miles wide,
and terminating about hundred miles
west of the Missouri River.
If the amount of corn in the country
is 20 be largely increased it must be done
by improved methods of cultivation in
the places where it succeeds best. Much
of the land in the Western States that is
capable of producing the largest crops
of corn sin no condition to do so dur
ing seasons rs wet rs the present one.
1t is covered with water in the early
spring, and can not be plowed till ii is
too late to plant without mourning the
danger Of an early frost in the fall. BY
draining it with tiles 1t can be made to
produce more corn than any land in tho
country. 1t is naturally rich in mineral
and organic matter, and its only defect
is its inability to part with the moisture
that accumulates during the winter and
early spring. The drains will not only
carry off this water, but will extend the
growing season several weeks. Eypcri-
ments made in the counties of this State
show that the average yield of corn is
increased one-lourtn by putting down
grain.tile. The cultivation of the crop
is also rendered more easy and the or
| binary risks are avoided IN n great
measure. Improved methods OF pre-
pairing the soil, of putting in the seed,
and of cullivating the growing crop
will do much toward increasing
production. Generally the farmers OF
PENNSYLVANIA, and others of the Eastern
States produce moro corn to the acre
than the farmers do in the most ierIlle
Of the Western States. They have a
much poorer soil, but they prepare IL
better, pay more attention to manurlng,
and employ the hand-hoe in connection
with the horsc.cutivator in working the
fields. II is not only possible but prac-
teal TO produce eighty bushels OF corn
to the acre on much of the land IN the
West where only forty is ordinarily mar
vested. ChicGQo Times.
Mrs. EMMA p. EWING, an authorit.
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