The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-01-17
Planting Corn.

and production 10 That degree OF
perfection that might be attained;
although many experiments have
been made with satisfactory results,
and its production has been increas-
ed TO q considerable extent. l be
1ieve that much improvement is yet
to be made both in the variety and
amount of corn produced. Is it
not probable that most ofour south
ern corn has too much stalk and
fodder, and the ears too much cob?
Most farmers are fond of selecting
from this large growthy variety L
find often, in field of fine looking
corn, many large stalks with no
ears, some with small one, and but
few with more tn one ear:its luxu-
RANT app arance induces the farmer
10 use it, and be seldom compares
| the yield with other varieties.
I once had variety of corn that
was really mammoth in size and
stalks and ears, growing two OF
three feet taller than other varieties
but the yield was not satisfactory
the cob was too large and sappy,
and the corn was often nodded and
injured by this overplus of sap, re
tanned in the cob after housing, and
sometimes before gathering. The
varieties of corn commonly used in
the south, with favorable seasons
and good land, will grow tall, large
and luxuriant, put although fine in
appearance, does not yield as good
as some smaller varieties. We
should seek corn with compact
stalks, well matured and well filled
ears, deep grain, many ears and
small COB, and if possible variety
that uniformly yielded two ears &c
the stalk. This kind of corn re
quires less room and can be plant
ed thicker on the ground, because
there is less foliage, while at the
same time the yield of each stalk
is much greater. 1t seldom pro
duces faulty stalks, tangles or is
blown down by wind because the
stalks are not so porous and weak,
but are of medium size, compact
and strong. This variety can be
produced by careful selection
of seed, keeping always in
view the object sought after. An
other hindrance TO the largest
yield, is the almost universal prac-
tice of punching and crowding in
hills. No coin can come to perfec-
ton when two or more stalks grow
close to each other, no matter what
the fertility or culture may be,every
stalk must be to itself to attain per
lection.
Then would say, plant but one
grain in a place, and never allow
two or more stalks to grow togeth-
er 1t is the business of the far
mer to find out the capacity of his
land. and Rowing this, he can
plant so as to get the largest
amount his land is capable of pro
ducing.
70 ascertain the mum er of stalks
upon given quantity of land,
have prepared the following table,
showing the number of stalks one
acre will contain, at the distances
mentioned in the table, which w,ll
also indicate the number of bushels
if every stalk will produce one ear,
aud one hundred ears will make one
bushel:
Planted 3x5 feet, one stalk, awe
have A, $50 stalks; planted AKA feet,
two stalks, we have 5,409 stalks;
planted 4x14 feet, in drill, we have
1928 stalks; planted 4xI feet in
drill, we have 10, 1858 stalks; 31xI5
feet, in drill, we have 9,340 stalks;
planted 6 feet double rows, 2 feet
between rows and four feet in mid
dies, two feet in drills, we have
1912 stalks, planted six feet double
rows, two feet between rows am
four feet in middles, twelve inches
in drill, we have 14,7O0 stalks. In
all these calculations, except the
latter, the fractions are thrown of,
which, if used, would increase the
amounts. The calculations 1 think
are substantially correct.
Now / believe if the land is suffi
GENTLY rich and properly cultivated,
that corn can be grown successful |
ly at all the distances, except the
four by four, two stalks in hill,
because it is impossible TO bring
corn to perfection unless each
stalk stands separate; when two
come up together, one impedes the
growth of the other, and receives an
injury itself from the inferior one,
md if an attempt is made to destroy
he inferior one, an additional inju-
y is inflicted by mutilatiOn, and
apid, vigorous start is not secured;
which is not always desirable. AT
er corn Is planted in this way aud
n perly thinned out, let the farmer
make an investigation and he will
ind not more than one hundred
nd fifty stalks to each one hundred
ills, and frequently it will fall
hort of this number. This is a
alling off of one-fourth from what
Ias intended, and a loss in that pro-
ortion to the farmer is inevitable. (
dwell upon this mode because it
} almost the universal practice ;
mong farmers on good land
therefore 1 say, drill on all land l
hat is capable of producing more
han one stalk three feet apart each {
ray; drop but one grain at a time {
nd one grain at place, but put in !
be ground t~o or three times as
much as you intend to leave, then
hin out to suit the capacity of the
and; use hose ia thinning, it is
luch easier and is a hoeing as well !
; thinning.
He is wise farmer who under
lands the productive capacity of
is land, its nature, its wants, and
ow to plant and cultivate, so as to
reduce the largest yield, with the
mallest outlay of labor and money
In my opinion the subject of
lanting corn is very Impo tart one,
nd is not as well understood as it !
hould be, and ought to receive
lore thought and investigation. 10
Shetland Ponies IN America.
A farmer who lives in Waukesha
'unty, Wis, hes a herd of fifty a
letland ponies, among them being
70 of the smallest ponies in the f,