The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-24
CORN cuLTlvArloN.
Necessity OF the Thorough Puiverization
of tho Soil.


of tho Soil.
/ Corn ground should be piowed, il
possible. rs soon as the weather per-
mits, as the action of the frost will rem
der it fine and save labor of preparation
later in the season. One mistake usual
ly made with corn is that of not thor
oughly pulverizing the soil previous to
putting in the seed. As the ground
can 10. be planted before danger O!
frost has passed, time may be obviated
by performing the work of preparation
cary, not only by blowing but by fire.
quent narrowing. If plowed as soon as
the frost is out of the ground, and the
land left in the rough condition with
out harrowing), the clods and Jumps
will be torn to pieces by expansion and
contraction due to heat and cold. The
land may be left until nearly time for
planting, which will give the early grass
and weeds chance to terminate. when
the pulveriZer and harrow should be
used. These implements should be
passed over the ground until the soil is
as fine as it is possible to make it.
The best method of manuring is to
haul the manure to the ground in the
spring while the earth is hard. 1t should
be evenly spread and plentifully ap-
piled 1t may then be plowed under at
the first blowing. Some farmers pre-
fer to haul out the manure in the fall,
in order that the frost may operate upon
it during the winter; bus this should not
b done unless the manure is spread
over ground thai has been recently
piowed, as the rains will wash away
much of the soluble matter. If applied
in the spring it Will also be subject tc
such danger, but not to so great an en-
tent But for the heavy labor of haul
ing manure over p.owed ground, the
best way to apply manure is to spread
it over the ground after blowing. allow
ing it to remain until the pulverizer
and harrow are used which will incor-
porate the manure intimately with the
soil. If the manure is hauled in small
loads. however, and spread over the
ground from the wagon, we would sug-
gest that it be spread over the plowed
ground and narrowed in.
In using seed the climate must be
taken into consideration. Corn is
semi-tropcal plant, and requires plenty
of heat. Many farmers are led astray
by tempting inducements to try yarie-
ties that are prolific, endeayoring to Sc
cure certain kinds that produce from
three to four ears on each stalk. What
is most desired is early maturity; but
the greater the number OF ears and the
taller the stalk the longer the time re-
quirel for growth, and hence The farm.
or should aim to select kind that he
knows will mature in his section, though
he should endeavor to procure the best
most suitable to his soil. Corn is q
gross feeder. and can not be in ured by
too much wcll-rotted manure. especially
if the ground is thoroughly prepared.
As starter in the hills, which is not
necessary on all soils, mixture of land
plaster Zones parD. guano Zone part)
and superphosphate 1.-TWO parts will be
found excellent. a heaping tablespoon
full scattered over the hill being sufficient
on good soil. III no manure is used ap-
ply on an acre, broadcast, two hundred
pounds supcrphosphate, one hundred
pounds sulphase of ammonia and two
hundred pounds muriate of potash.
Nothing will be needed in the hills for
starting the corn.
Corn may be "checked'' four feet
apart each way, and the cultivatoI
should then be kept in use until it grows
too large to admit of being easily |
worked. No grass or weeds should be
permitted to grow, and in the dry sea.
son the frequent use of the cultivator
will be found beneficial. Another |
method of planting is to lay off the rows
four feet apart and plant the corn one
foot apart in the rows, thinning out all
the plants in each hill to enc. This
gives each plant plenty of room, and
produces the largest yield. As soon as
the Corn is six inches high onc-horSe
piow II; used, which should turn the
earth from the corn. After it makes
further growth the p'ow is again used.
but this time throwing the earth back
TO the corn. After the grass begins to
appear the cuis.vator is used; but once
Turing the season the hoe may be re-
lu;red between the hills.-Farm, Fled
md St0ckDlan.