The National tribune., 1886-03-25
OUR RURAL .J'A TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
CULTIVATION OF CORN.

|
NATIONAL TRIBUNE in regard to corn and the
mode of cultivation, and as it would be impos-
sible for me to answer all individually, I ask
permission to do so through your agricultural
department. The first step to be taken is to
procure good seed. 1t is just as impossible to
grow good crop of sound corn from poor de-
generated seed as it is to breed a thoroughbred
horse or colt from scrub animals. The ground
should be thoroughly plowed and narrowed be-
7 fore planting. Select land that is we'll drained.
1t is poor policy to attempt to grow corn on wet
| land, as this cereal requires dry and warm soil.
! In regard to the proper time to plant, the in
! telligent farmer will be governed by the con-
diton of the soil and the aspect of the weather
There are thousands of farmers who pay no
attention to the condition Of the soil, but plant
on certain day of the month under all cir
! cumstances. l do not advocate narrowing corn
| after the seed has terminated and the plant has
made its appearance above the surface The
corn plant in its early stages of growth is a
very tender one, aud the slightest touch will
break it off. Every plant thus treated will
have to grow q new top, which will make
it just so much later in high lattudes, where
the season is short. This is very important
matter, as it is desirable to bring the crop to
maturity at the earliest possible day. After the
seed has germinated and the plant has grown
enough to see the rows, cultivation should be
done with the two-horSe sulky cutivator. My
mode is to take Off the two outside shoyes or
teeth, and use only the two inside ones Adjust
them to run as near the row as possible without
plowlng out the corn. L fix the ShOvGls or teeth
in such way as to throw the soil from the
plant or row. By this method you drain the
water away from the roots of the plant. | term
it ditchng. This will admit the heat of the
sun to penetrate to the roots and cause it to
grow rapidly, and rapid growth should be en-
couraged to insure good crop.
| believe in planting i'll cheeks or in rows
both ways. Drilling corn or planting in rows
only one way is great mistake, and should be
discontinued. In cultivating u field of drilled
| corn you can cultivate but one way all the time,
thus heaping the soil up to the stalk and COW
ering the roots too deep. 1t is well established
fact that it is a natural characteristic of the
corn plant to throw out its roots near the sur
face, therefore it is mistake to heap the soil
up to the row or plant. Again, the corn plant
flOurishes best in hot, sunny wcather-another
argument against drilled corn When planted
in drills the ground is tco much shaded. The
writer has demonstrated by actual experiment
that drilled corn will mature from two to three
weeks later than when planted in checks or in
rows both ways.
One great fault with many farmers is that
they plant poor, doubtful seed because it is
cheap. Knowing their seed is doubtful, they
plant heavily to insure a good stand. The con-
sequences are, in one hill there will be from
six to ten stalks, and in the next there will be
none. One stalk in the hill is better than six
Every intelligent farmer knows that when
planted too thick the stalks will be barren
Prof. Dodge makes the statement in the
AmeTicGn Rural Home of Rochester, n. V, that
n l.ftI No
produces larger yield of corn per acre than
the new and fertile land of the valleys of the
Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. There is no
doubt but there is good deal of truth i'll the
statement. The causes for this remarkable
state of affairs are very plain. The New Eng
land farmer plants small fields, which can be
properly cultivated. lie buys good seed,
manures heavy and gives thorough cultivation
On the other hand, tho average Western farmer
plants poor seed because it is cheap, plants
more than he can properly cultivate with the
facilities he has at hand, and the consequences
are that when husking time arrives, he hndS
himself the possesSOr of a light crop of soft
corn and big crop of ragWeeds.-A. l.. GOD
DARD, TT. Atkinson, Iowa.
NESTS FOE SITTING HENS.
Mistakes are made with the nests Of sitting
hens. Too many are made that are so small
that the hen Is unable to perform her duties of
sitting down upon and stirring the eggs without
smashing one or two. \ roOnIy nest should be
supplicd-not too large-having bottom Of
rather soft material resting on dirt, with
plenty of straw well packed about the sides.
Such a nest, especially early in the season, is
very desirable retaining rs it does the heat for
a much longer time than CareleSsly made
nest of loose hay in a box. The best reccp-
tace for a nest where one has plenty of room
is an ordinary -four barrel. Cut in the side a
hole large enough for one hen to pass through,
and then hinge a small door to open and shut
at pleasure. The advantage OF such nest is
that nothing can be more secluded. There are
no draughts cf cold air sucking through the
cracks into the nest. They are easily in
spcctcd If not made too deep, and there is ample
space for any hen within the barrel. A door
prevents the hen from looking out much better
than a wire screen. \ hen that cannot sec all
that is going on outside is less restless
TO CLEAR SHEEP OF TICKS.
A writer in The IEchigan Farmer says that
Scotch snuff is a sure remedy against sheep
ticks His directions for applying it are the
following: Open the fleece in several places on
each side, or all the way round them is better,
and sirL in a little OF the snuff. second APP
pIication is seldom necessary. | have tried it.
aud il proved satisfactory. 1t is cheap aud
harmless, and if you will try it you viii be sur
prised at results, and would soon he willing to
offer 4 prize for every tick found upon your
sheep.
N0TELETs.
Down in TEXAS they have an official desig-
mated rs "Scab Inspector" His jurisdiction
extends over one more Counties, in which he
visits the different hocks of sheep and those
found afflicted with scab he requires the owners
TO have dipped, in compliance with the State
law.
Concentrate your forces. It is better, and
at the same time more profitable TO grow $50
bushels Of ears on one acre Of corn than to work
over two acres for the same amount, and the
Same in proportion with other farm crops.
The potato is an important article of food
i'll Great Britain, some 100000 tons a year be-
ing consumed by the Inhabitants about 100000
tons Of which are imported, the remainder be-
ing raised there. The average yield per acre is
about seven tons, or 23s bushels.
The calves will be making their appear
ance soon. Have things ready to give them Il
welcome. Get over the idea that calves are
produced simply to be, knocked on the head.
You can make money by raising the little fe-
lows on skim milk, oats and meal, if you only
think so.
An Indiana seed grower offered prize of
one cent for each bean grown on the one stalk
producing the largest number of California tree
beans 1t cost him $22 to redeem his promise.
The prize stalk contained 400 pods and 1900
beans T.
One of the first steps in fighting insects is
to cut down and burn all worthless fruit trees,
thus reducing thcnunpher OF breeding places.
The benefit which fowls derive from eat