The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-02-07


this much and more has been done;
if it has, the plan or the place employ |
ed has been such as to call to mind
the case of the man who hid bis light |
under bushel. The Kentucky Com
missioner of Agriculture, Charlie E.
Bowman,may be taken as illustrating
the general predicament in regard to
this business. When applied to for
something substantial, he sends a |
oircular,at the top of which he writes
"This is all l have about Milo |
Maize" There are a great many I'M
known things in this country about
so ambitious a candidate for agrioul- |
tural honors that ought to be known.
South America here IS too compre-
hensive to be satisfying. Between
the tropics and Terra Del Fuego we
have every sort Of climatic condition.
The one extreme gives MS the stately
palm and the other beautiful BERBERIs
whose specific name is in honor of
the famous author os the Origin Of
Species. A plant capable Of afford |
ing food for both man and beast chal
lenges attention and deserves to have
its history fully written and every
where proclaimed.
Whilst it is true that much is an
known regarding Milo Maize, it is
alison true that much is known. Visit
ors to the Southern Exposition have
had an opportunity of seeing and
studying the plant. On Professor
Todd's Exposition Farm enough Of it
was set out to show its character,and,
as it were, outline its capabilities. 1t
grows in enormous tufts, each tuft
the product Of single shoot Or
single seed, for it can be increased
by either seeds Or slips. 1t is incon-
ceivable that the land for Milo Maiz
should be too rich. And in order to
Weld the so tons of forage which one
authority informs us it is capable of
yielding nothing short of soil in a
high state of fertility would begin to
answer.
Milo Maize is a crop evidently not
difficult to cultivate. The ground has
to be in good heat and well broken
up. The laying off arrangements call
for hills about three feet apart each
way. B or 4 seed should be put in
each place, and to do well they must
be covered lightly. The sowing in
the Southern States is best done be-
tween the 10th Of April and the LIST
Of May, and in the Middle and West
ern States between the lst and middle
of May. There are two dangers at
taching to too early a start--one is
the danger Of tho rotting Of the seed
and Che other is the danger Of prema-
ture blooming on accout of the drouth
Of summer When the plant first
appear it is very tender and spindling
this sign Of weakness is increased |
by cool season, AT this stage the |
order is for careful handling. As |
soon as warm weather comes the |
growth is quite rapid. The thinning
done Immediately after Or during II
rain, and when growth Of six or
eight inches has been attained, and |
not more than two shoots should be |
left in place. The Trimmings are ca
pablo OF answering all the purposes
of seed at this state; set them out two |
TO hill three feet from hill to hill !
each way; shorten the leaves and see
that moisture is supplied in abund-
ance-uutil fresh roots are out. One
and two plowings are enough. The
growth IS 50 rapid and the shade so
thorough that weeds are practically
out Of the question.
Wherever Milo Maizo will do any
good, farmers should give it a trial,
for it is a plant the possibilities of
which are certainly remarkable. IN
the Southern States its bloom appears
in about five and in the Middle and
Western States in about four and a
half months. When the grain is in
the milk stage, the leaves to the
amount, when the crop is a good one,
of two tons to the acre, can be strip
ped and cured, and they make excel
ont fodder. The grain is cut as soon
! l.