Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-06
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Methods OF cultavating the Now Most I'm
portAnt Crop.

Methods OF cultivating the Now Most I'm
portAnt Crop
Corn is now the most important crop
which win receive the farmers considera-
ton, until il is fully matured and harvested.
II is semi.tropital plant and requires plen-
ty of heat and moisture. In some sections
the most productive varieties cannot be
grown, owing to the short season for growth,
and consequently every advantage Of quail.
ity and yield must be sacrificed IN order TO
obtain early maturity. In the South the
white flint varieties are preferred, such corn
giving the best results on soil that would
Be unproduetive with the yellow kinds. The
hints also serve 9 greater number OF Pur-
poses, being especially adapted to the max
ing Of hominy and finer quality of meal.
The usual method of cul,ivating corn is
to check" il of into rows four feet apart
each way, with three stalks of corn at the
intersection of the rows each hill conse-
quently being four feet in every direction
from the next. This system is what Is
known as the level mode of cultivation, the
cultivator only being used, except, 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 lsbor-saving.
The mode is 80 well known as to require no
suggestions. here.
There is another method Of cultivation,
however, though not generally prscticed in
this section, which deserves attention from
farmers 1t is to plant corn in rows four
feet apart and from eighteen inches to two
feet apart in the rows, according to distance
preferred. Three grains of seed are allowed
to the hill, and after the corn is six inches
high the two weaker plants are drawn out,
leaving the stronger one only standing. BY
this arrangement the ground will have one
stalk Of corn growing every two feet in the
rows, whereas under the check system
there will be three stalks every four feet. 1t
is plain that the latter method allows OF q
much larger number Of stalks to the acre,
while the cultivation is also easy. With the
stalks two feet apart, the plow lone horse is
passed close to the corn, throwing the dirt
from the plants, leaving the rows ridged up
with q ridge in the centre, between the rows
OF corn. This is done to prevent the labor
OF hoeing, as the young grass is destroyed BY
the pillow. After the corn has made further
growth and the grass has again appeared
the pillow is once more used, the dirt being
thrown back to the corn rows Later in the
season the cultiYator is uGed between the
rows, while a single hoeing sufiees to de-
stroy the grass between the rows until the
corn is safe from intrQding weeds aud
grasses.
The point 10 be observed is that while
the check system requires less labor, aud
allows Of q greater number Of stalks to
grow on an acre, the plan Of allowing each
stalk of corn to be two feet away in Que
direction and four feet in the other from its
neighbors gives it greater feeding room and
less competition in its struggle for plant
food, as the worst enemy plant can have
is another of the same kind growing by its
side. If such method of planting does
best on inferior soil there is no reason why
it should moi increase the yield on fertile
soil True, the number of plants will be less
but the corn having greater opportunities
for growth, especially when young, will ma
ture earlier give heavier yield and be less
susceptible to drought. 1t is an experiment
worth trying, as farmers are often anxious
about giving the corn an early start. When
the plants are well grown the roots will COW
er all the ground, whether the crop is
checked or not; but when the plants are
very young the advantage Of having each
one two feet from the next will give them
an opportunity Of making rapid growth at
time when it IS most desired.