Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-03-20

waiting should begin, the definite objec
of which should be to maintain the sol
in the perfect condition to which W,
brought il at planting, allowing Nature
/ to choose the distancs underneath thu
surface at which the roots can best per
form their office. But the practice Oi
increasing or materially Interfering will
; the distance of the roots from the sur
face by billing, or ridging, after the
roots are formed, is an evil never to be
tolerated, exec it might be on the prin.
ciple, "ef two evils choose the least
Now, while the plants are small, is the
time for deep and thorough culture, for
the following reasons: The soil is now
practically unoccupied, land the tendency
of il in such condition is to harden
This is Natures time for root-produc.
tion, and the sooner it is accomplished
the longer time shs will have for matu-
ring the crop. And last. but far from
least, if we should check the upward
growth of stalk for the time being by
breaking roots, or partial upheaval of
the plants, we are emily acting in unison
with the law Of the growth of plants in
a temperate cline, thereby gaining sta
bility, strength and firmness for the
stalk afterward, and also cOunteracting
the tendency to extreme height; taking
hint from the gardener, who does not
scruple to interfere with the roots of
bis plants by frequent resettings, thus
developing mass of roots that will in
sure him a faithful reward, despite ad-
versities in the latter part of the season.
The proper form of cultiyating now is
| by long, narrow blades, running deep es-
pecially near the plants, using shields
to prevent covering, decreasing the
depth next the plants as they increase
in size, aud finally merely scarifying to
break The surface and destroy weed
germs. The old plan of cultivating
shallow when the plants are small, and
deep when larger, is suicidal, having no
| foundation in reason or nature. The
practice of throwing away from the
plants by barshaer, and back again, is
better. The destruction of weeds should
always be a secondary consideration,
never allowing it 10 drive US from the
proper cultivation of the plants.
Having procured full force of strong,
vigorous roots, we will not have much
trouble with the production of the
stalks. For grain profit we want a
single stalk from single germ. The
means we have been very properly using
to develop root power. and the slight
checking of stalk development by occa
sional cool spells. will cause Nature to
seek an outlet for her loot resources by
starting laterals, ("suckers' we call
them,) she, having alss in view the
speedy covering of the soil. These
should be removed, and Nature encour-
aged to push forward the single stalk,
with ths assurance that we will keep
the surface all right until sufficiently
shaded We want well-propOrtioned
stalk. Nature has given one composed
of sections which we call joints, each
of these having leaf, which is the re-
spiratory organ. If these organs are far
apart, with slender connection, the
stalk is weak. Some of the agencies
that produce this kind of a stalk are
late or thick planting, and neglect of
timely wedding.
And now we come to the caring, and
with Natures great laboratory fully
and properly developed, and in vigorous
operation, we will hot have much to do
but watch and protect. But this end
should be constantly in mind in all our
operations, remembering that corn is a
plant and grain that contains Large
amount of sugar, requiring abundance
of heat to develop it, The rows should
be run sufficiently wide, and ir the di-
rection to best admit the sunlight aud
heat. Always remember that an exces-
sive Dumbor of stalks means deficiency
in quality if not in quantity Of grain,
and extra labor and vexation in har
yeStinp and preserving
We have said nothing directly with
regard to the enemies of growing corn,
but everything, indirectly; for whatever
will produce quick, vigorous growth,
is by far the best means to defeat the
enemies. The individual that bends all
his energies to produce this growth.
should be never replant a hill, will Sc
cure better results than the one that
waits to see what the enemies will do.
and then replants. Deep, thorough, in
telligent culture is also the best means
to prevent washing of the soil. What
we have said has been more especially
intended to teach the cutivator to think,
as we'll as act, and thus to act intelli
gently. Wide-awakel is the watchword
of the cOrn-gr0wer; for whatever NAV
be the price of it to the consumer, "eter- |
nal vigilance" it surely costs the produ-
GER
THE Democrats have been steadily
losiDU Urnnnd for moro than u vaar