The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-03-16
In the COrn.Field.

Good seed corn is an essential to bio
yield of corn. and yet there is no one
mistake that farmers more often commit
than the use of seed corn of inferior quail
fly. Good seed corn, with little or no
manure, illproduce better results than
inferior seed with high feeding, other
things being equal. BY all means, if YOU
plant at all, plant a prime article. Let
it be grain of excellent quality coming
from plant of prolific habit. Be sure
that the terminating powers of the grain
to be used as seed have not been injured.
Many 10 ses will be avoided by testing
the seed previous TO sowing. r-
The soil is the next requisite. 1t ought
to be rich and friable; not rich enough,
however, to produce = luxuriant growth
of foliage to the sacrifice of grain. Where
manure is required the better plan is to
sow it broadcast and plow it in if it be
coarse or harrow it in if well pulverized
and decomposed. When manure is
thoroughly Incorporated in the soil the
roots of the plants are certain to take it
up and the development of earand grain
will correspond with that of stalk and
leaves. which IS not the case when linn
tied amount of fertilizers is placed in hill
or drill only. To gain the best results
from the employmento of stimulating ma
terials in hill or drill available plant food
must be near at hand and in sufficient
quantity to carry the plant once started
on to the perfection of its growth.
An early start is great point gained
and the use of fertilizers in the hill is
of decided advantage, provided. as has
already been suggested, the soil outside
contains sufficient food to keep up the
growth of the plant. And now a word
about the best fertilizers for corn. 4 set
formula for all soils and climate is IRA
tional. Every man must use Judgment
in supplying the wants of his special soil:
must alsosiepend upon the season. Ex-
periments conducted at the Connecticut
University grounds and reported upoI
by Pro eSSor Atwater make il appear
that the largest crops may be expected
with mixture of superphosphate, pot
ash. salt and nitrate of soda; or better,
with nitrate of soda, sulphate of am
monia aud dried blood, instead of nitrate
of soda alone
Experiments reported from thu Uni
versity of Virginia, made with corr and
different fertilizers, tend to establish the
following propositions: Cd Thas fer
tilizers supplied by fine ground rhos-
pilates, superphosphates and potaE.s salts
do better for corn than the highlrnitro-
genized or ammoniated mixturet (2)
That corn has generally succeeds well
without any artificial supply of Nitrogen
and is always benefited BY phosph les or
BY potash. (3) That the opini6t, that
potash is generally found in sufficient
quantities in our soils and that al ar
tificial supply is not required is incorrect.
all crops are increased by the use of pot
ash salts, coru especially; in word, the
presence OF potash seems to be necessary
for corn to insure best results.
Field experiments with fertilizers on the
corn crop, reported by the New jersey
State Agricultural Experiment Station,
went to show that the best fertilizers for
corn on the college farm were Sarnyard
manure and muriate of potash. Q) Re-
suits from the average product for seven
wears showed that neither sulphate of
ammonia nor superphosphate of lime
used alone increased the crop of corn or
of stalks. % Muriate of potash APP
piled lone increased the corn 1872 per !
SSAS- <1u0 Slams -O-o pei Ccus.f lHls liOiI i
an average for ten years (3) BARNARD /
manure increased the corn 36-7 and the /
stalks "a per cent; this for an average |
of five years. a. 4 complete chemical /
manure increased the corn 26.5 per cent. |
and the stalks 3s-5 per cent.
The season for blowing corn varies of
course, with the attitude. and after that /
much depends on the weather: as soon |
as the day are mild and the earth warm |
and dry, whenever that may be- Large |
areas are usually sown in drills and corn |
planters and cultivators are adopted. !
Flat culture is preferred except in soils |
inclined TO be wet The distance of /
planting depends on the variety of seed,
large growing sorts requiring more space |
than the small sorts. The larger corn 1
requires drills of three and a half to four 1
feet apart, while small corn does well at 1
q distance of three feet or less The /
seed ought not to be covered too deep, /
two inches being all sufficient aud more
than enough in mellow ground. Guilt
walton must be thorough; 4. G.. the ground
well stirred and the weeds down until
the tasseis appear when, if the soil has
been properly prepared and worked, the
crop will require no further attention