The Portland daily press., 1883-01-01
Corn Raising in Maine.

Some years since l commenced raising
corn on my place in Hampden, as an exper-
iment, having doubts about its success, as L
feared we were too far East, and too near
the sea coast, exposed to the cool afternoon
sea breezes. With me it has proved
decided success. have during three years
experimental as to the best soil for corn,
the best fertilizer, the right distance apart
to make rows and hills, the number of kerr
nes to a hill, the best mode of cutting and
saving the corn and fodder, the best time
to plant, &C., designing to make corn rails
ing study in my farming operations. AS
my health has SO far failed as to unfit me
for manual labor, l shall have to give up
hoed crops, and make hay raising special
ty. l will, through the Farmer, give some
of the results and conclusions arrived at,
for the benefit of Maine farmers. First,
then, the soil must be made rich by liberal
application of plant food, and so elevated as
to be sure from frosts. Mucky, springy
land, that has had the wash from higher
land or thousands fof years, but well under
drained, so that no wafer will remain long
on the surface, find best adapted to corn
raising; next to this is high, slaty, or gravel
ly land, that needs not much draining,
Then aieI9q supply of good barn dressing
spreadlvenly over Jh surface after plow-
ing, and then thoroughly narrowed. There
10 uO udHS6I VI SctlluS tuS lduu IOO fiSH ioi
corn. Then put in each hill some finely
pulverized old dressing, the best l find is
that which has lain long under the stable or
tie-up; next, hog dressing; well rotted;
barnyard manure will do WELL By expert
ment | find the best yield with rows four
feet apart, hills three, planted with four to
six kernels in the hill; rows furrowed both
ways. havesa marker with wide teeth, so
to mark four feet apart, with holes to
e. l. g.. IL
horse; mark it off with the marker, and
then furrow the four feet rows with the
horse pillow. This gives the distance quite
perfect / have planted all distances, but
to prove which produces the most corn, /
last spring fuTrowed four rows, three feet
apart, making twelve feet; then three rows
four feet, occupying the same ground as the
four rows three feet apart. The rows were
all of one length--about so hills. 1t was
harvested separately. The 4-3 feet rows
had seven baskets of ears the "a feet rows
eight; making gain of one-eighth in favor
of the feet rows occupying the same
ground.
To secure the best results, the ground
should be stirred often and kept free from
weeds. | have known many farmers to
start well for corn crop and then let the
weeds get start that just about spoiled the
growth of corn. The ground should be
stirred just as the corn DeglDS 10 break
grourd; this prevents the crows from pull
ing it and gives the corn start. 90 over
my corn once with the cultivator, and then
when the corn is about spipdling with the
pillow, 10 cover up the weeds and such, so
they shall not get start till the corn about
covers the ground. When kernels begin to
make go over the ground with the hoe,
stirring the ground and killing the weeds.
don't think there is as much difference
in the seed as people imagine. Corn is in
digenons to Maine; the natives planted it
generations before the country was visited
by Europeans. 1t acclimat itself. think
the seed planted by the Indians would be
the best, if we could get at it. In securing
the crop, if wanted only the corn I would
cut the stalks; but to get the most profit
would cut the corn at the roots before the
frosts, and have it we'll shocked. This makes
the fodder worth something, whereas it
amounts to nearly nothing if topped.
In conclusion, have to say believe corn
profitable crop for Maine farmers to raise
on all the gravelly high lands suitable for
hoed crops. We have as good a climate to
get GOOD, sound corn as any of the States,
and can raise from % to 100 bushels sheled
corn to the acre, but to do this we must
make our ground rich, and cultivate so as
to keep down the weeds. / intended to say
a word about the proper time to plant. The
weather should be sufficiently warm to
start the leaves on the trees The Indian
rule was to plant when oak leaves were the
size of mouse's ear. find it good rule
to plant when black flies begin to be trou-
blesome.-Corr Maine Farmer.