The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-01-18
Large Crops Of Corn.

Inc yI0Iu OF corn per aCres dCCOruinR
to the reports of the National Depart
! ment of Agriculture, Is very small the
present year. Strange as 1t may appear.
the largest yield is credited to Maine,
where the crop averages 1876 bushels
per acre. Kansas comes next with an
average yield of 1915 bushels per acre.
In Florida, the land of flowers and per-
petual sunshine, the yield is very small,
being only 1913 bushels. Tho yield in
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota is
larger than in the three States that lie
south of them. In all the States where
cotton is the leading crop, the average
yield of corn is very small. The entire
South appears to be very poorly adapt
ed to the production of corn. The
seasons are long, the sunshine bright,
the temperature all that can be desired,
and there is no loss on account of late
or early frosts. Still corn is not o.
profitable crop. Much of che soil is
very poor, and protracted droughts are
likely to occur. In places where there
is rich soil, very large crops of corn
stalks and leaves can be raised. The
former have no market value, however.
and the cost of gathering the latter by
the usual method of plucking them from
the stalks is very great. Who're corn
stalks shoot up to very great height,
rs they do in some portions of the
South, it is necessary to locate the hills
long distance apart, and, as q conse-
quence, there are but few of them on an
acre. The amount of grain on stalk
OF corn which is sixteen feet high is no
larger than on one that is but eight,
and the value of the forage is less. Tho
! corn grown in the South is moro valua
bio for making bread than that raised
| III the North, as it is softer and sweeter.
This accounts in part for the preference
OF the Southern people for bread made
| of corn.
The average yield on corn in what
are known as "the great corn-prod,.a ;.
ing States" is small, owing to the large
amount planted on inverted sod. The
sod Is turned with view of preparing
the soil for some cultivated crop, and
corn is preferred to any other. AS the
| planting is done late in the season the
sod is not sufficiently decomposed to
furnish much material for plant growth,
and its condition is such that cultivators
can not be used between the rows.
Still the yield of corn raised in this
manner Is reckoned in with that pro-
duced on well-prepared soil, which is
often manured ond always cultivated.
A bad showing is accordingly made of
the productiveness of our finest Western
lands. On the other hand, q remarka-
bly, good showing is made for the natu-
rally poor or worn out lands in some of
the Eastern States. The average yield
is reported, probably truthfully, as large,
or at least as larger than that of the
Western States. The aggregate amount
produced, however, Is very small.
Possibly it is produced at loss
Hf
labor were estimated. Nearly every
farmer has n small portion of
land in corn, and on this he puts
q very large amount of manure and ex.
pends vast amount of labor. The land
appropriated to this crop is the best on
the entire farm. Quite likely it has been
Gin training" for some years before it
was planted for this crop. 1t has pro.
duccd crop of clover which was turned
under. Perhaps coarse manure was
also plowed under and fine manure
scattered broadcast before the harrow
was used. Compost or some excellent
fertilizer was placed in the hills in order
to give the young plants q start A top
dressing of ashes or plaster is applied
after the plants have appeared. The
ground is worked with hand-hoe as
we'll as with the cultivator and plow. A
| Ahi 10 Slop ID VIC result.
Farmers in the more fertile portions
or the Western States can hardly be ex.
pccted to take so much pains with q
crop Of corn, especially where land is
cheap and labor is comparatively high
They find it moro profitable to plant
more acres and to eXpend less in labor
and fertilizers. Still it is likely that
Western farmers would be the gamers
by following the example of Eastern
farmers more closely than they do. Not
enough pains are taken in the produc-
ton OF corn crop in the most favored
regions of the West. Land is often ap-
propriated to the crop that is unsuita-
bic either on account of deficient drain
age or other natural defects. 1t IS DOOR
~ ploWed, and all the subsequent work
til the time of planting is sighted
Not enough attention is paid to procur-
ing reliable seed or varie,v suited to
the climate OF the region where it is to
be planted. AS many acres are to be
planted some is put in too early and some
too late. Much planting is done when
the soil contains so much moisture that
the seed will rot in the hill. The plant
ing is often done with machine, and
az good work is not done as when the
work is performed by hand. Manuring
in the hill before planting is never prac-
ticed, and top dressing Of mineral or
other fertilizers rarely applied. All the
work of cultivation is performed by the
use of implements drawn by horses, and
the hand-hoe is never seen in the field
Corn has recently been so high that there
is no longer economy in attempting to
raise q crop in this manner. More at
tention should be given to preparing the
land for the crop, to the application of
manure, and to thorough cultivation.
The hand-hoe saou!G be used IN con.
ncction with the cu'tivator. In short,
everything pertaining to the production
| OF the crop should receive more atten-
tion. n.--ChicaQO Tin1eS-