The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-24
Preparing Corn Ground.
lPhiladelphia Reeord.l

~
Corn ground should be plowed, if possible,
as soon as the weather permits, as the action
OF the frost will render it fine and save Ia
Dor OF preparation later IN the season. One
mistake usually made with corn is that of
not thoroughly pulverizing the soil previous
to putting in the seed. as the ground can
not be planted before the danger of frost
has passed time may be obvisted by per-
forming the work OF preparation early, not
only by plowing but by frequent harro wing.
If plowed as SOON as the frost is out of the
ground, and the land left in the rough con-
ditien without harrowing) the clods and
Jumps will be torn to pieces by the expan.
sion 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 q chance to terminate, when the pull
verizer and harrow should be used. These
implements should be passed over the
ground until the soil is as fine as it is posi-
BILE to make il.
The best method OF manuring is TO haul
the manure TO the ground in the spring
while the earth is bard. 1t should be even =
spread snd plentituily applied. IL may then
be pioved under at the first blowing. Some
farmers prefer to haul out the manure in
the fall, in order that the frost may operate
upon 1t during the winter. But his should
not he done unless the manure is spread
over ground that has been recently ploWed,
as the rains will wash away much of the sol
uble matter. IL applied IN the spring it will
also bs subject TO such danger, but not to so
CREST en- extent. But for the heavy labor of
hauling manure over plowed ground, the
best way to apply manure is TO spread it
over the ground after blowing, allowing it
TO remain until the pulveriZer aid harrow
are used, which will incnrD0rate the manure
intimately with the so Il the manure is
hauled in small loads. however, and spread
over the ground from the wagon, we would
suggest that il be spread over the plowed
ground and ed in.
In using seed the climate must be taken
into consideration. Corn is a semi tropjcsl
plant, and requires plenty of heat. Many
farmers are led astray by tempting indace-
ments to try varieties that are prolific, en-.
deaYoTlng to secure certain kinds that pro
duce from three 10 tour ears on each stalk.
What is most desired is early maturity; but
the grester the number of ears and the taller
the stalk, the longer the time required for
growth, and hence the farmer should aim to
select q kind that be knows viii mature IN
his section, though he should endeavor to
procure the best most suitable TO his sell.
Corn is a great grass feeder, and can not be
Injured by too much well-rottsd manur es-
ptcially if the ground is thoroughly pre-.
pared. AS a starter in the hills, which is
not necessary on all soils, q mixture of land
plaster lone part. guRno Zone part and su-
perphosphate two psrts) will be found ex-
ASAANhtf q hCopA15 tnbACSpOOhAhA oJabbOlCu
over the hill being sufficient on good soil. IL
no manure is used on an acre, broadcast, 200
pounds superphosphate, 100 pounds sQlphate
OF ammonia and 200 pounds muriate OF pot.
ash. Nothing will be needed in the hills for
starting the corn.
Corn may be checked" four feet apart
each way, and the cultivator 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
season the frequent uss OF the caltivator
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 one. This gives each plant plenty of
room, and produces the largest yield. As
soon as the corn is six inches high q one.
horse pillow is used, which should turn the
earth from the corn. After it makes fur.
Their growth the pillow is again used, but this
time throwing the earth back to the corn.
After the grass begins to appear the cultivator
is used, but once during the season the hoe
may be required between the hills.