The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-13
Methods of Cultivating Corn.
IPhilsdelphis Record.

iEnueuelpulA kecCEO.I
Corn lie now the most important crop
which will receive the farmers considera-
ton until It is fully matured and harvested.
IL is a semi-tropicsl plant and requires
plenty OF heat and moisture. In some Sec
tions the most productive varieties can not
be grown owing to the short season for
growth, and consequently every advantage
Of quality and yield must be sacrificed IN
order 10 obtain early maturity. In the
South the white flint varieties are preferred,
such corn giving the best results on soil that
would be unproductive with the yellow
kinds. The fints also serve greater mum.
Der of purposes, being especially adapted to
the making Of hominy and finer quality of
meal.
The usual method Of cultiyEting corn is to
CHECK" it off into rows four feet apart each
way, with three stalks of corn at Il intersec-
tions OF the rows, each bill consequently be-
ing feur feet in every direction from the
next This system is What is known as the
level mode Of cultivation, the cultiyator
only being used, sxcspt, as is sometimes
done, the harrow is passed over the field
when the plants are very young. No hoeing
is required in thus cultivating corn, as the
work is done in two directions, and hence it
is considered labor saving. The mode is so
wen known as 70 require no suggestions
here.
There is another method OF cultivation,
however, though not generally prscticed in
this section. which deserves attention from
farmers. 10 ia 20 plant corn in rows four
feet spart and from eighteen inches TO two
feet apart IN the rows, according to distance
preferred. Three grains OF seed are allowed
g he hill, bit alter the corn is six inches
high the tWo weaker plants are drawn out
leaving the stronger one only standing By
this arrangement the ground viii have one
stalk Of corn growing every two fest in the
rows whereas in ths ''chsck" system there
Will &c three stalks every four feet IL IS
PLAN that TIE latter method allows OF 4
much larger number OF stalks 20 an acre,
while the cultivation is easy. With the
stalks two fest apart, the pillow (One-horss) is
passed clCse 10 the corn, throwing the dirt
from the plants leaving the rows rijged up,
with ridge Ia the center, between ths rows
Of corn. This is done % prevent the labor
Of hosilg, IS the young grass is destroyed
bv the pi1w Alter the corn hRs made
further growth ard the grass I1as again a -
peEred the plOw is once more used, tins dirt
Deiyg thrown back Il the corn rows. Later
in the season the cuItivator is used between
the rows. while e single hosing su1icz5 to
QftION tQS kld>o D6tWctu Tue IOHo uutll buo
corn is safe from intruding weeds and grasses.
The point to be observed Is that while the
'check" system requires less labor, and al
lows al greater number OF stalks TO grow
On an acre, the plan of allowing each stalk
Of corn To be two feet away in one direction
and four feet in the other from its neignbors,
gives it greater feeding room and less CON-
petition in its struggle for plant food, IS the
wort enemy plant can have is another of
the same kind growing by its side IL such
method OF planting does best on inferior
soil, there ie nc reason why 1t should not in
cresss the yield on fertile sell. True, the
number Of plants will be less. but the corn
having greater opportunities for growth, es'
pecislly when young, will mature earlier.
give heavier yield and be less susceptible
to drought. Il is az experiment worth try
ing rs farmers are often anxious about Civ
ing the corn an early start. When the plants
are well grown, the roots will cover all the
ground, whether the corn is checked or not;
but when the plants are very young, the i'd
vantage OF having each one two feet from
the next will give them an opportunity OF
making rapid growth at time when il is
mOst desired