Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-05-26
AgrifnltNral department.
THE CULTIVATION OF CORN.

On several occasions says the
Breeders Gazette, has it sought to
impress upon its readers the advan-
tage of giving greater attention and
more systematic effort to the corn
crop. Next to grass, it is the most
important crop of the farm, and en-
tiers so largely, not only in the food
and maintenance of live stock of all
descriptions, but into the ordinary
commercial movements as well, that
a short or abundant crop effects to
very marked degree the business in
terests of the whole country. Evil
IDENTIFY crop of such great import
ance should not be submitted to any
considerable degree to the accidents
of the seasons, but should be brought
as near as possible to q maximum in
point of quantity and quality, and
made as near as possible a sure thing.
And by proper attention this may be
done. Many farmers do give great
deal of care and attention to the Sc
lection of seed, but too generally the
attention given to this matter is so
slight that it practically amounts to
but little. By proper selection of
seed, varieties can be procured which
ripen so early as to be practically
sure, if the proper conditions of cul-
ture are at the same time observed.
The corn plant is of tropical origin,
and all its habits of growth are trop-
ical or semi-tropical in character. 1t
makes its best development in hot
weather, and for that reason varieties
should be selected which are capable
of maturing before the brief hot sea-
son is over. And for the same rea-
son it should be planted in a warm
soil. Not necessarily one largely
composed of sand or with a southern
slope, but with q soil which naturally
has such drama age that the surplus
water can pass off below, instead of
being evaporated from the surface.
AS was recently remarked, this, aside
from rendering the soil earlier and
prolonging the season, will make q
difference of nearly ten degrees in
the temperature. Where it Is posi-
BILE for the soil to become surcharged
with water at moderate depth from
the surface, there are very few sea-
sons sufficiently hot and dry in the
early stages of growth to make a
satisfactory yield of corn, while on
such soils most any year a practical
failure may be expected.
Corn is plant of most remarkable
resources and by care and a judicious
supply of all the conditions for its
most favorable growth the most mar
velous results can be secured, and
almost anything reasonable mar
might ask can he obtained. A writ
er in a recent number of the Countrl
Gentleman speaks of 1877 bushels t.
the acre, which, with a small are;
and the very best of culture he wa
able to secure. These figures con
trast strangely with the census re
turns of 1870, which gave the aver
age yield in the great corn state O
Illinois as only 141a bushels to tn
acre. This exceptional yield was Sc
cured on ground which has been tw
years in clover, and under every hi
was placed handful of hen manur
busted with lime, and it would not b
practical to supply the same favor
able conditions over large areas
But between this extreme on the on
hand, and the average results exhit
tied by the census returns, there is
medium ground upon which it wi
pay every farmer to get. While m;
ny individuals are perhaps forcing
the corn production to as great d.
gree as it will pay to push it, at tt
same time the census figures sho
that generally the conditions su
rounding the growing of the crop a
inexcusably bad, either as to Il
ground upon which it is planted ]
the after cultivation. And if Il
facts should be arrived at, it won
doubtless be found that the prime
pal cause of these low results is t
planting upon ground which is t
wet by reason of the absence of su
able drainage, for the SUGGEST
growing of this crop. Where Ian
are deficient in this respect son
thing else besides corn may be gro,
to better advantage; but nothing C
be grown with entire satisfaction.
american Farmer.