Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-02-13
KING CORN.
Cor. Spirit of the Farm,

iNteiii NAiNNtN'iiSS1 NNAAl llNltl'ttlN ~ Wv
gree5 today, ! know Of nothing better
to write about than corn-nOt Char
ley corn"-because everybody all
over the State are down on the latter
but corn in the crib. Corn as King
for corn is the mud-sill of the far
ner in Tennessee-iti is the one thing
needful in "every we'll regulated
family;" it is the great crop of the
State every man and woman in the
State who plants anything at all,
plants more or less corn; it is relied
upon in every family for bread, and
as feed for horses, hogs and cattle.
Everybody thinks he or she knows
all about the planting, management
and culture of the corn crop, and the
majority of the corn planters are of
the opinion that all they do notknoW
about it is not worth knowing.
The time for planting this crop is
fast approaching, and the time for
discussing the mode Of planting is at
hand. Recognizing the great impor-
lance of the crop, and the necessity
of getting the best results from its
culture, l frankly admit that have
been experimenting with it for more
than thirty years, and that | am yet
tar from graduating in the art Of
planting and the best varieties. In
the course Of this time, for the pur-
pose of getting the best yield, and the
most prolific, and the best quality Of
corn, have tried every variety |
know of, or have even heard of in
The United States, and from Mexico
and Brazil. For the benefit Of Others
who may not wish to waste so much
time and money as | have done, |
propose to give them the benefit Of
my experience and observation. For
more than thirty years | experiment.
ed with wheat and its culture, until |
graduated, in my opinion, on that
crop, making quality equal to the
best, and Il yield Of fifty bushels per
acre, without the addition of or eX-
penses Of any fertilizers. With this
success am content. | have not as
yet become as well satisfied with corn
culture, although | have succeeded a.
well, if not better, than many Others;
and l an of the opinion that under
stand the mode of culture to get the
best results. BY our mode Of plant
ing, without the benefit of fertilizers
which we will have to resort to
very soon, or pay less rents for land
! usually make and consume on an
average $500 to 5000 bushels of corn
per year, and never make as much as
( need-hence it is try to plant to
get the best corn and the best yield.
MODE or PLANTING, TIME AND Gull
TURE.
To obtain the best results with the
least work, is to turn over the land to
be planted in corn in the fall or Win
ter; and if the land is Of a clay sub
soil, it should be broken deep. And
follow the turning ploW with long
and strong bull-tongue, made for the
purpose, and drawn by one strong
horse or mule that walks in the fur
row Of the turning pillow. My object
is to go down into the clay, but not to
turn it out on top. If / fail to do this
in the fall, when lay off the land in
the spring to plant, if l drill | follow
the turning pillow with the bull tongue;
If / check follow the pillow only one
way. My object for this is to give
drainage. This is never done except
on clay land, free from gravel.
If it is light, gravelly land, or bottom
loan, | have no use for the subsoil
pillow. Whatever of stubble, trash or
stalks there may be on the land |
turn under and put under to stay as
long as possible at the outset. Often
have prepared my land in this way.
have my own idea of planting, but
10 ascertain the views of Others whom
knew to be good farmers, got the
opinions of about twenty of the
best as to whether should plant on
the land as left from the fall and win
ter blowing, or rebreak in the spring.
About fifteen out of the twenty adj
vised planting just as the land was,
and no rebreaking. This decision
fully settled me III my views upon
The subject; so that in the open spell
IN March, while others were break.
ing to get their land ready to plant, ]
laid off my land and planted before
my neighbors were ready. One O
my neighbors passing my field one
1lN- whom a ,oula pnul6 not no Gaor