The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-06-19
THE CORN CROP.
ITS Cultivation RestOrer Of Exhausted
Wheat Lands.

Wheat Lands.
Corn is a crop that we can much bet
Ter afford to grow and to export than
wheat, for it is not robber of that
scarcest mineral fertilizer, phosphate of
lime, as is the 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,
Che expense of restoring our wheat
lands, some other crop will be substi-
tuted, and it is quite as likely to be corn
as anything else.
Where corn fails on long cultivated
ground tits 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 devourer of available nitro
gen or ammonia. But this in soils con-
tanning much vegetable matter is rapid
ly developed during summer by frequent
cultivation. And yet on even the rich
est soils a small quantity of available
nitrates applied at planting time will
give corn vigorous start and cause it
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, it
is not ready for use. Thus CONNER
Cial fertilizers are often proftably 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 blowing.
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
corn is usually and should be always
planted on sod, the blowing can be done
early, and while corn and potato stub
bic 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 american CUltiUdt0r 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 it's detriment. 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
Ou oCGi luuS CONOlOu OlOp 10 oJuuUCu
for weeks and never fully RECEIVERS. In
soil made mellow, as it should be, half
an inch covering of seed corn is better
than more. In 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
gun and warm air. Later in the season,
as the ground becomes thoroughly
nheated 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 g
good corn crop. Undoubtedly the teeth
OF the cultivatOr cut off many corn roots
but in a growing time these are quickly
replaced and even increased in number
10 utilize the increased amount of plan
food which the cultivation supplies
Some judgement is required in cult
waiting corn. Occasionally, late in thu
season, when the soil is extensively dry
1t may be injurious. Corn roots may b.
,cut off by the cultivator when the plan
can not readily replace them, and if thi
comes just when the corn is caring tn,
iilling may do more harm than good
N. Y, Herald