News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-02-14
A PRACTICAL TALK ABOUT CORN.
How and When to Culiivate-A Word In
Regard to Feeding the Grain.

HOW ana Whcn TO CuItiVate-A Word In
Regard to Feeding the Grain.
have had eleven years experience in
Kansas. The yellow or large dent and
the speckled or strawberry varieties of
corn are the most valuable. Land pro-
duces corn best after the year following
the first breaking. To raise corn on sod.
l would break three inches in depth, as
soon as the grass begins to grow. When
done plowing, I use sod cutter both
ways; harrow thoroughly, and some
times roll before planting. The total
cost of breaking is 50 per acre; it is
more economically done with twelve
or fourteen-inch plow and oxen; one
yoke of cattle to every six inches in
width of furrow turned. To raise corn
the year following first breaking, break
from May to August, about three inches
deep, and cross-plowing during March.
L do not approve of winter plowing,
because of the winds blowing the soil
too much, there being nothing to hold
it. For replowing sod or stirring old
ground, I use a sixteen-inch Hapgood
sulky plow. Prefer to raise oats or
wheat before planting corn. The ground
should be thoroughly puIverized and
rolled previous to planting. Would
have the hills three feet ten inches each
way, and use the Keystone planter with
check-rower, dropping three to four
grains in a hill. When troubled with
grubs or cut-worms I have found it
profitable to plow in the fall, and to put
ashes around the hills while planting. I
harrow the ground until the corn is
ready to cultivate; keeping it in good
condition and killing the young weeds
with a common harrow. Prefer Thomp-
sons riding and walking cuHivators,
costing sixteen dollars and thirty dollars.
Would cultivate as often as possible, and
throw the soil to the hills the last time.
If there are weeds in the hills pull them
out.
I have found it profitable to feed corn
to hogs while it is in the milk, as it gives
them a fine start. AS soon as the grain
commences to glaze, or is too hard for
roasting-ears, it should be put in shocks,
twelve hills square. If it is not shocked
it should remain in the field until it is
dry enough to put in cribs. There is
not any advantage in storing the ears
with the husks on. The average yield of
my corn for the last five years has been
forty bushels per acre, and the cost of
raising it is So per acre.
Prices at our recent market have
varied from zoe. to SOC. per bushel.
Twenty-Five per cent. more is realized on
corn fed to good stock than when sold as
grain. I feed from so to 160 cattle, and
from 60 to 300 hogs, commencing on
snapped" corn, then the shucked, and
finish with the shelled. Our millers
charge one-fourth for grinding or chop
ping corn. [ soak the whole grain and
feed it before it sours, which is much
better for hogs, and especially young
ones. An acre of stalks free from chinch
bugs is equal to one ton of straw. The
most desirable way to dispose of stalks
when preparing for the next crop is to
use a cutter and plow them under.
Have lost some cattle while pasturing in
stalk fields think the cause was insuffi-
cient water.-E. r. POWELL, Augusta
Co. Kansas,