Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-08
CORN CULTURE.
The Successful Raising and Economic,
Disposition of This Important Crop.

The Successful Raising and Economics
Disposition of This Important Crop.
To raise good crop of corn. three
things chiefly require our attention.
These are, first. preparation of the
ground: second, seed, and time and
manner of planting; third, cultivation
Of the growing corn
Under the first head viii take it for
granted that we have fertile field to
begin our work in. If this be a stubhle
field it will pay us well to plow our
stubble under as early as possible. say
in July or August By this means we
will DESTROY the weeds before the seeds
ripen, and we then have comparative
" clean field The early blowing has
the additional advantage, that the fall
rains will settle the ground and prevent
the blowing of the soil. When the lister
is run through this fall plowing) in the
spring, it viii be easy work for the team
and the ground is also in excellent con-
dition to receive the seed. Corn ground
of the previous year may be prepared
by listing early in the spring. and then
at the time of planting list again. run
ming the lister through the ridges. thus
making new ridges of loose soil in the
place of the first burrows. If there is a
lack of time for this preparatory listing.
consider one single deep listing ahead
of the drill the best thing that
can been done. However, do not wish
to assert that a good crop can not be
raised in the old-fashioned way
by blowing the ground and then check
rowing. 1t certainly can be done by
proper cultivation. Indeed, have seen
crop of corn raised by simply plant
ing after the stalks had been cut, and
then giving plenty of cultivation after
ward But do claim that by prepar-
ing the ground as / have stated. it can
be done with less labor, and without
| crowding ourselves with work in the
| harvest time; and we can raise a larger
amount of corn with the same force,
! without crowding the teams and team
STEERS Another point in favor of pre-
pairing the ground by listing is that
listed corn can be cultivated later in the
summer without injury. 1t does not
grow up so rank in the early part OF
the season. and the roots of the corn
mostly ramifv in the furrow which is
being filled with loose pulverized soil;
so that not many corn roots are de-
stroyed even at the first cultivating; and
| the corn standing low, the implement
passes over without breaking stalks. ]
| prefer to list north and south. so that
| the noon sun can shine into the furrow
and warm the seed: also the prevailing
| winds passing along the rows break less
| corn and shake off less ears. 1t is best
| to cross the rows the next year. This
| will give you two years out of three
| with rows north and south: and then
| the blowing for small grain will be east
| and west. which is always the most
| agreeable way to pillow in this country.
We should change the ground at least
| once in four years.
2. The ground being prepared in the
| best possible manner, and good seed
| selected, next comes the planting.
| prefer the one-horse drill, as it puts the
corn best in the middle of the furrow,
| facilitating after-culture. The best
| time in this latitude in ordinary sea-
| sons to plant is the 10th of May. but
as we can not plant our large fields in
| one day. we must commence as muct
| before that date as we expect to ex.
tend our planting beyond it. The con
| dition of the ground must also be con.
sidered If the ground is cold and we
| the seed is apt to rot. II cold and dry
termination viii be delayed, but il
will come out all right in time. Thu
early planting produces the heavies
| corn. But as corn is sub-tropica
plant, it is useless to plant too early. IL
that case the weeds will grow and ge
the start of the corn, making cultiva
| ton difficult afterward. Besides. there
is danger of poor stand by the rot
ing of some seed and insects eating
| much if it laws long and does not grow
up quickly. The early varieties car
most safely be planted first or EARL
| est. The proper distance between thu
grains in drilling depends much on the
condition of the ground and seed.
the seed has been tested and founC
| good, and the ground is warm and ir
| good condition, twenty inches is clos
enough. However. it is safest to begir
with twelve inches if the ground is colo
vet. and to increase the distance to six
teen inches later. making allowance fol
| loss. Shallow planting (say one inch
is also safer in wet times than deer
planting. The last few years. more
poor stands were caused by too deer
planting and consequent rotting thar
| any other cause.
8. After stand of corn has been OBJ.
tanned Cor even half stand is better
than replanting). then comes the worl
of cultivation. If the ground is mois
enough to pulverize easily, the harrow
NAV be started at once to great advan
tage. as it will destroy the young weed
and crumble as much soil into the fur
| row as is desirable. If the ground il
dry the harrow may roll too man,
clods into the furrow on the corn; it i
: then best to use broad board or two
fastened together in such manner tina
the side on which the team is hitchet
| viii be elevated, to pass over the clods
the other parts of the board following
will crush the clods and rub away thu
young weeds. The board is a cheaper
implement than the roller and more eff
fective, for it viii destroy both clod
and weeds. The board may be followed
bv the harrow in few days. or by tn.
cultivator. When the corn is small ant
a good rain softens the ground. it is I:
good plan to start all the harrows tina
can be rugged up as soon as the GROUND
is dry enough to work it. One team
narrowing then can do three or foul
times as much good as a team cultivat
ing. Use slant-tooth harrow ant
none other. When the ground is dry
n