The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-02-02
ALL ABOUT COMPLAINING.


The Mani Republican has an inter-
esting letter on the subject Of corn
planting, which the EAGLE takes pleas
ure in reproducing herewith. 1t is
dated Richland township, Miami coun-
ty, Kansas, December IA, 1881:
"As the columns of your valuable pa
per are open to the discussion of farm
ing, shall be glad to submit some OBJ
servations on the preparation of the
soil for corn, seed, etc. First will give
my own methods, and l speak rs one
who has made corn growing success.
plow seven to eight inches in depth,
aud bolt down smooth. Mac, why do
YOU pillow that depth p inquiries neigh
Dor. Because when we get a heavy
rainfall my land will take it in and re-
tain it longer than in shallow blowing.
Why bolt the land? II levels it, fills all
low places, and | can marx off much
better; and when put my planter on
it get the seed in at uniform depth.
| mark off with a four-foot marker.
Why mark wider than your planter!
think the development will more than
make up the difference. My opinion is
that the most of our farmers get their
corn too thick TO insure large yield.
| remove no stalks or trash from my
land with fire, but turn all under.
Why not burn it? Because the trash
and stalks will absorb and retain tons
of water that otherwise would settle,
drain of or evaporate; and, besides,
the trash and stalks make splendid
fertilizer, and thereby keep up the veg
etable stimulants OF my land. | plant
as soon as think the seed will germin-
ate 10 insure good stand. a man had
better plant with an ovcrcoat on. if the
land is dry, than TO plant late. | aim
to get as near three stalks to the hill as
possible. Why not put four or five
seeds to the hill? fla man wants stalks
and fodder, do so. If you desire to
grow good, wcll-developcd corn and
large yield, three stalks TO the hill is
enough mean let the majority be
three. Plant an early corn, the little
ST. Charles. l would plant a part of
my crop in the long, green yellow, if /
could get it in its purity. | think an
early variety is the best adapted TO this
climae. The little yellow and eight
rowci varieties will not yield profit
able crop. But few acres of early
feed would do. never shell the butts
Of nv seed but throw it aside TO plant
it. shell well back from the tip end.
end. Why do you plant the butts?
Because il is the earliest corn on the
ear. Why shell the tips of! 1t is the
later and not so well developed, and |
want to get the seed uniform, so that
NV planter will distribute the seed uni
formly.
When my corn is up, with four or
five blades, if dry. | usually put an a
harrow on it, and keep it there until it
rains. If there is plenty of moisture,
put my cultivators TO work as the sea-
son advances. If dry, | raise my inside
,hovcls and lower outside ones. That
will level the land from the center of
each middle. If wet June | cultivate
iecpcr. Why? Because all vegetation
will seek its wants. If supplied at the |
surface, the roots will run out horizon |
ally. To prevent this the ground
should be thoroughly cultivated to dry |
he surface and turn the roots down to
ret them away from the heat of the |
'un and parching winds. Why raise
he shovels? If dry, 10 keep from
breaking the roots and thereby check
ng the growth of the plant. | have
heard some men say that they wanted
0 plow close to the corn TO break the
'oots and thus make il grow. suppose
were TO put up a calf TO fatten, give
t no water and bleed it every few days
O make il take on fat-wbat would
oh think of il? Both plans may be
rood in theory, but are grounded on
,oor logic, and will not answer in prac-
ice The roots of plants are their
ungs which draw sustenance from the
oil and the leaves from the atmosphere,
nd the less they are broken or stripped
he better for the plant. II is true that
on may break the corn roots with i'm
unity, if you get an abundance of wa
er-fall, and grow splendid crop.
tut reverse the season with your corn
D that fix, and it is irrctrieyably ruined.
always aim to get through cultivating
D June. | don't think il advisable to
Iir the land in July, when The rays of
ne sun are so hot, and when we are
able TO have less rainfall than in May
nd June think q man should stir
is land seven to nine inches every
ther year.
I don't claim to be Derfect / write