The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-07-02
INDIAN CORN.
The Best Mode Of Cultlvating, etc.

pmcticcd so extensively by such variety
Of people os 70 leave, at this day, no point
upon which controversy can be rnised.
Yet such is not the cose, for there are no
two points on which practical agriculturists
agree. At tbe present time n 'arly all are
agreed on the subject of deep plowing for
corn, just as the majority now pillow for
wheat, and not at all for oats.
For my own part, am strenuous advo-
cate Of level culture. Heat and moisture
are the life Of corn. There is scare. ly any
crop raised i'm the nor hem latitudes that
requires more warmth than Indian corn
and no cultivated crop showing the good
effect Of tillage or the bad results of neg
lect more quickly.
The time was when the land was new ::
when corn was planted in the virgin soil,
that when the farmer got his corn planted,
he could go of for two weeks hunt or
fish with perfect impunity. But that day
is past now, and the soil has undergone
such changes by the many years Of cultiva-
ton that it is necessary to keep stiraing the
soil right along from the time of planting
until the crop is laid by.
The virgin soil did not bake after hard
rain as it does now, and corn can neither
come up or grow when it gets a crust form
ed over it.
As has just been said, heat and moisture
are the life Of corn, and in order that the
soil can be wamed up so as to stimulate the
greatest growth, it must be constantly stir
red so as to admit air and sunshine. And
though sufficient moisture is essential, an
excess Of water is sure death.
Then it is important to see that no water
stands ON your coufelds. It is not abso-
lutely necessary that water should stand on
the ground to do fatal mischief it is sufi.
cieut for it 20 stand near the surface. This
will keep the ground cold and clammy and
the plants will soon fet a sickly aguish look
and when it once takes ON that appearance,
fatal mischief has been done.
Some yearssinceI made a careful study ol
the cost per acre of cultiyaGng corn, iuclud
the rent Of the land, breaking up, seed
harvesting the crop, etc, and if my mem
ory serves, it was from $l2 to $15 per acre
That being correct, corn culture in the ag
gregate in Ohio is certainly not a reuumer
tive crop, as the average yield is only abou
30 bushels per acre.
, At S12, a yield of 30 bushels, makes tn
corn cost 40 cents per bushel, at S15, so cts
Consequently the average farmer is usin
corn that has actually cost him, to produce
p more than it is worth in the market
o. The important question; the paramount
question then is how to reduce the cost o
B production, as it is not pleasing matter T.
7 reflect upon, that you are feeding and sell
Q ing corn that has cost more to produc
i than it has actually cost.
Y One thing is sure, and that is, that tn
e only way of reducing cost of production,
e by increasing the yield Thus, if it cost
r. to Is dollars per acre to produce it, an acr
f that yields 70 bushels, costs, except harves
d ing, one half as much as an acre that yield
It 37{ bushels, and one third as much as a
acre at 25 bushels, one fourth as much O
n it would, should it yield 100 bushels. BJ
j. 100 bushels to the acre is considered apo
e rophy, except on very small areas.
e But why not raise as much on or
e consecutive acres as can be raised on OF
IS acre?
IS The difficulty, as I understand it, is nj
So much Gin the way of the largest yielt
It in the want of fertility in the soil, as in Il
p poor methods used in culture, In order
.e reach the ultimatum or maximum in pr
t. duction, the soil has to be taxed to its u
l. most with plants set at such distances
N will give each individual plant an equ
S. chance with every other plant Now wi
.e is it that ever does this2 Kind reader
10 Brother farmer right here is the place
find "the milk in the cocoa NUT If y,
lt propose to raise a maximum crop, al
D, have good soil, and of course you want
ID raise the maximum strength of soil consi
!. esed, then it becomes absolutely necessa
y to secure a perfect stand. In order to
rs this. the seed bed must have been propt
s, ly prepared and the best of seed used.
ar perfect stand Of healthy and vigorous plau
W can not be secured with poor seed. Meth
c. can it be secured in rough poorly prepar
ground, therefore it is decroed by an in
st voBable law that has its foundation in {
ID nature Of things, that careles farmer C
Of not raise a maximum crop of corn. WI
n. Imeon by a maximum crop, is a crop viii
be is the full measure of the capacity of {
Ii land when none of the elements Of succ
On have been omitted nor neglected.
et As has been stated previously, moistr
in and warmth are the life of the corn pla
&C. Then the best form of culture is the q
that gives a compact but mellow soil for
corn roots to draw nourishmeut from.
the soil is very loose it dries out to qui
w. and the corn suffers for want Of moistu
9s- if the ground is throwed up in ridges W
les deep fnrows, it is put in the very VIC
.ul condition for dry weather although
5,Gi- what ought to be done In a very wet seas
M But a careful farmer should run q sho
op cultivator through his field and level do
these ridges at the first sign of drouth
tn By keeping the earth fine and the
he quent stirring Of an inch or two Of the {
he face, the power of capillary attract
d. seems to be developed to wonderful