Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-07-29
The CORN-EIELp.
Now tho Hoe Should BE Used In Conness
tion with the Cultivation.


tion with the Cultlvator.
1t requires much less work to raise q
crop of corn now that the ground is
marked, the seed dropped and covered
with machine and the soil stirred
with riding cultivator, than in the
old days when all these operations
were performed by the use of hand
tools. The fields are much larger. and
the amount of corn raised would have
astonished the farmers of former age.
The Introduction of machinery has
lightened toll in the corn-iield and
greatly increased the crop. 1t is like
ly, however, that most Western farm
ers rely too much on machinery in rails
ing corn. They seem to expect that
machines operated by horses will per-
form all the delicate operations that
were performed by men u.s.
ing hand tools. They appear to forget
that even the best machines are noten-
dowed with intelligence. They use
them not as aids in corn culture, but
they rely on them for the performance
of all the work. They were not orig
inally intended to do all this. They
were designed and introduced for the
purpose Of making the work of hoeing
easy. But the introduction of the inn
proved cultivator resulted in the aboli-
ton OF the hand hoe from the corn
field
That the judicious use of the hand
hoe will greatly increase the yield of
corn is shown by numerous reports.
Almost every year the National De-
partmcnt of Agriculture credits Maine
| with producing more corn per acre
than any of the Western States. The
soil of the State is very poor and the
climate unfavorable to the crop. But
all the land planted to corn is worked
with the hand hoe. As the corn-ticlds
are small and the ground generally
abounds in small stones, the planter
and riding cultivator can not be used
to advantage. A cultivator drawn by
one horse, light pillow or narrow har-
row is run between the rows to kill the
weeds and loosen the soil, while the
hoe is employed to work the ground
Immediately about the stalks of corn.
Corn in gardens generally yields twice
as much as in fields, for the reason that
it is tended with the hand hoe. The
farmers who compete for the corn pre-
miums at our State and county fairs
use the hoe as well as the horse cult
vator in tending the crop. They are
not satisfied with the work done with
riding cultivators. They use them, but
they do not expect that they will do all
the work required. The hand hoe is
used in connection with them.
The hoe should be used in tending a
crop of corn before the cultiyator is
brought into the field. AS soon as the
young plants appear above ground so
that the rows can be plainly seen, men
should 90 through the field and inspect
the condition of every hill. In many
cases bits of stone, pieces of turf and
hard earth will be found lying above
the spot where the seed was dropped.
If sprouts are visible they do not APP
pear in an upright condition. They
have been bent by the weight above
them. These fragments of stone, turf
and hard earth should be carefully re-
moved, the plants raised in an upright
position by the hand, and some fine
soil thrown about them. In portions
of some fields, where there is consider
able clay, a hard crust will be found
about the young plants. This should
be broken with tho hoe, pulverized,
and then placed about the young
plants. If rain occurred while the
corn was coming up, some of the
sprouted corn will be found partially
exposed. In such cases fine earth
should be drawn over it with the hoe
so that it will have better chance tC
grow. Some hills, perhaps majority
of them, will require no special atten
,, ton.
1t is not hard work to 60 over {
field of corn in this way. Persons toe
old or too young to perform ordinar,
field labor can engage in it. If, fpl
any cause, the team is disabled or en-
gagged in other work, the ordinary
field hands can use the hoe for thu
,, purposes named. If the yield of corr
! can be increased ten per cent. by usin!
: the hoe in advance of the cultvator
there will be economy in hiring eXtr;
help at the time when the corn is com
ing up. To insure the largest crop o
corn possible, the hoe should be use,
in connection with the cultivator dur
ing the entire growing season. Tin
i improved cultivator can be relied oil
, to keep the soil between the hills il
good condition, but it will not worl
the soil in the hill itself. 1t is not un
frequently the case that weeds appea
, in hills, to the great damage of tn
= = corn crop, when there are none be
tween the rows. Sometimes the cult
!, vator throws pieces of turf or har,
4 earth against the young stalks of corn
and when this is the case they Shout,
be removed by the hand hoe befor
they have caused serious damage.
is a good plan to have boy follo'
!, the cultivator, and to repair any dam
age it does.
" To insure good work and ease i
/, handling, the hoe used for this pun
pose should be kept sharp and clean
Hoes are generally well polished whe
q they are bought, and by taking sui
u able pains they can be kept in this cor
II dition till they are worn out. The
!, should be thoroughly cleaned at tn
end of each days work, dried an
. oiled When not in use they shoul
l be kept under cover, as scythes an
!, other cutting implements are. Their
= is as much reason for sharpening hoe
as scythes. The latter are used fc
!; cutting grass and weeds above the SUI
face of the ground, and the former fC
cutting them below the surface.
man can do twice as much work in
Ii day with sharp hoe than he can if
is dull and covered with rust, and /
can do the work much more easily.
hoe may be used up in a single seaso
if it is sharpened every day it is use,
!. but it will be worn out to good adval
u tapp IL will keen the uSer from wea