Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-06-18
TIL: CORN CROP.
Its Cultivation "a Rcstorcr of Exhausted
Wheat Lands.

Its Cultivation Rcstorcr of Exhausted
Wheat Lands.
Corn is n crop that we can much bet
ter afford to grow and to export than
wheat, for it is not robbcr of that
scarccst mineral fertilizer, phosphate OF
lime, as is tine case with wheat. With
out doubt the expense of restoring ex-
hausted wheat lands is one reason why
English farmers have been gradually
reducing their wheat product and de-
voting their land to crops which will
not impose this necessity. When we
feel, as the English farmers have done,
the expense of restoring our wheat
lands, some other crop will be substi-
tuted, and it is quite rs likely TO be corn
as anything else.
Where corn fails on long cultivated
ground it is more apt to be because the
mechanical condition of the soil is bad
rather than from lack of plant food.
Fertility of one kind corn does need. 1t
is a great deyourer of available nitro
gen or ammonia. But this in soils con-
tanning much vegetable matter is rapid
" developed during summer by frequent
cultivation. And yet on even the rich
est soils small quantity of available
nitrates applied at planting time will
give corn vigorous start and cause il
to mature several days earlier. The
reason for this is that in early spring
the ground is still cold, and no matter
how much fertility the soil contains, il
is not ready for use. Thus CONNER.
cial fertilizers are often protitably used
on corn. Where wheat has been the
main crop phosphate fertilizers are
mostly used, but nitrate would on
most lands be better, for it is mainly to
the very small percentage of ammonia
that most phosphate fertilizers contain
that they owe their good effects on
corn.
Success in corn-growing is largely de-
pendent on thorough preparation OF
the soil. Corn loves warmth and its
feeding roots run. near the surface.
This must be made mellow and the
heat secured by manure or sod ferment-
ing in the soil and by shallow plowing
Another very important point is plow-
ing early in the season, thus giving
chance for sun and air to warm the
seed bed before the seed is planted. AS
planted on sod, the plowing can be done
early, and while corn and potato stub
BILE are yet unfit to work. By planting
time this sod, if worked down, will be-
gin to ferment, and thus furnish some
bottom heat, which is worth more to
young corn than to any other grain
The dmerican CWltiuat0r declares
furthermore that corn is often planted
much too deep. The young plant loves
warmth, and if the seed has been buried
two, three or four inches the shoot is
embedded in it to its dctrimcnt. Early
in the season the soil is always colder
than the air, and the closer corn is
planted to the surface, provided the soil
Is compacted around the seed, the bet
ter it will grow. Planting too deeply
is often one of the difficulties in drilling
corn, especially if the field is rolled down
after the seed is in. The rolling breaks
down the ridges which the drill has
made; covering the seed still more deep
| ly, and when rain comes on heavy soil
on seed thus covered the crop is stunted
for weeks and never fully RECEIVERS. In
soil made mellow, MS it should be, half
an inch covering of seed corn is better
than more. In II dry time this should
be pressed down over the seed. If rain
comes even this is not important.
What is wanted is that the first roots OF
the corn plant shall start near the sur
face to receive the fullest benefit of the
sun and warm air. Later in the season,
as the ground becomes thoroughly
heated and dryer, corn roots will run
deeper. On heavy soils, however, they
should always start near the surface.
Thorough cultivation through the
growing season is essential to making {
good corn crop. Undoubtedly the teetl
Of the cultiyator cut OIL many corn roots
but in a growing time these are quickl,
replaced and even increased in number
TO utilize the increased amount of plan
food which the cultivation supplies
Some judgement is required in cult
waiting corn. Occasionally, late in tn
season, when the soil is extensively dry
it may be injurious. Corn roots may b
cut OH by the cultivator when the plan
can not readily replace them, and II thi
comes just when tho corn is caring tn
tilling may do more harm than good
~ Y Herald.