Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-05-20
Conditions for Corn Growing.

Conditions for Corn Growing.
Indian COIN is undoubtedly the most
important grain crop grown in this coun-
try. 1t is also the crop of which, more
than any other, our farmers hold control
of the worlds markets. 1t is grown ia
southern Europe; but il is not likely
ever to be produced in quantities much
larger than required for consumption in
! its own locality. And as it's value as
food, for man or beast. becomes better
known, it is sure to meet an increased
demand from England and other coun-
tries of Northern Europe. 1t is, indeed,
though in growth a semi-tropical plant,
better adapted for use in colder and
more northern climates than in the
south. Hence there can be no doubt
that, whatever corn we have to spare
for years to come, will be taken at fair
prices. While our wheat exports the
past year have fallen off, corn and its
products have been proportionably in
much better demand.
Corn is a crop which we can much
better afford to grow and to export than
wheat; for it is not a 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
lessening their wheat product. and de-
voting more of their land to crops which
will not impose this necessity. When
we feel, as English farmers have done,
the expense of restoring our wheat
lands, some other crop will be substitute
ed; and it is quite as likely to be corn as
anything else.
Where corn fails on long+cultivated
ground. it is more apt to 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 great devourer of available nitrogen
vegetable matter, is rapidly developed
during summer by frequent cultivation.
And yet. on even the richest soils, a
small quantity of available nitrates, ap-
piled at planting time, will give corn a
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 commercial fertilizers are often
proftably used on corn. Where wheat
has been the main crop, phosphate fer
tiliZers are mostly used, but nitrate
would on most lands be better. for it is
plainly to the very small percentage of
ammonia that most phosphate fertilizers
contain that they owe their good effects
on corn.
Success in csrn growing is largely de-
pendent on thorough preparation of the
soil. Corn loves warmth, and its feed
ing roots run near the surface. This
must be made mellow, and the heat SGT
cured by manure or sod fermenting in
the soil. and by shallow blowing. AM
other very important point is plowing
early in the season, thus giving chance
for sun aid air TO warm the seed bed be-
fore the corn is planted. As corn is
usually, and should be always, plantsd
on sod, this plowing can be done early,
and while corn and potato stubble are
yet unfit to work. By planting time this
sod, if worked down, will begin to fer
ment, and thus furnish some bottom heat
which is worth more to yeung corn than
to any other grain.
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 imbedded in it
to its 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 better it will grow. Plant
ing too deeply is often one OF the diff
culties 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 deeply, and when rain
comes on heavy soil on seed thus cover
ed, the crop is stunted for weeks, ard
never fully RECEIVERS. In soil made mel
low, as it should be, half an inch covers
ing of seed corn is better than more. In
a 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 surface to receive the full
est benefit of the sun and warm air.
Later in the season, as the ground be-
comes 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 teeth
Of the cultivator cut off many corn roots;
but in a growing time these are quickly
placed and even increased i'm number TO
utilize the increased amount of plant
food which the cultivation supplies.
Some Judgment is required in cultivating
corn. Occasionally. late in the season,
when the soil is excessively dry, it may
be injurious. Corn roots may be cut OFF
by the cultivator when the plant cannot
readily replace them; and if this comes
Just when the corn is caring the tilling
may do more harm than good. We have
known few such cases; only enough,
however, to make the exceptions to the
general rule that thorough cultivation
Of corn is beneficial. Except at caring