The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-06-03
RURAL ECONOMY.
low the Hoe Should Be Used in
Corn-Fields in Connection
With the Cultivator, Etc.
The Hoe in the corn-Field.

tit requires much less work to raise a
rop OF corn now that the ground is
aarked' the seed dropped and covered
1tn a machine. and the soil stirred
nth a riding ~cultivator, han in the old
avs when all Use operations were
erformed by the use OF hand tools.
he ieldg are much larger, and the
mountrof corn raised would have as
nnlsRed the farmers of q former age.
M introduction of machinery has
;ghtened toll in the corn-field and
realty increased the crop. 1t is likely,
owever, that most western farmers
ely too much on machinery in raising
orn. They seem to expect that ma
hines operated by horses will perform
II the delicate operations that were
prmerly performed by men using hand
ools. They appear to forget that even
he best machines are not endowed with
Intelligence. They use them not as
ids in corn culture, but they rely on
hem for the performance of all the
york. They were not originally in
ended to do all this. They were de-
igned and introduced for the purpose
# making the work of hoeing, easy.
But the Introduction of the improved
ultivator resulted in the abolition of
he hand hoe from the corn-field.
That the %judicious use of the hand
zoe will greatly increase the yield of
orn is shown by numerous reports.
Almost every year the national depart
hent OF agriculture credits Maine with
producing more corn per acre than any
f the western states. The soil of the
tate is very poor and the climate I'M
adorable to the crop. But all the land
,lanted to corn is worked with the hand
Zoe. As the corn-tields are small and
he ground generally abounds in small
tones, the planter and riding cultiva-
or can not be used to advantage. A
m%ltivator drawn by one horse, a light
,low, or narrow harrow is run be-
ween the rows to kill the weeds and
oosen the soil, while the hoe is en-
,loyed to work the ground Immediate
Y about the stalks of orr. Corn in
.ardens generally yields twice as much
S in fields, for the reason that it is
ended with the hand hoe. The farm
rs who compete for the corn premi-
inns at state and county fairs use
he, hoe as well as the horse c%ultivator
intending the crop. They are not sat
SIZED with the work done with riding
ELEVATORS. They use them, but they
mot expect that they will do all the
fork required. The hand hoe is used
n connection with them.
The hoe should be used in tending q
rep of corr before the c~ultivator is
brought into the field. As soon as the
roung plants appear above ground so
hat the rows a be clearly seen. men
thould 90 through the field and inspect
he condition of every hill. In many
Eases bits of stone, pieces of turf, and
lard earth will be found lying above
he spot where the seed was dropped.
f sprouts are visible they do not APP
Dear in an upright condition. They
AVE been bent by the weight above
hem. These fragments of stone, turf,
md hard earth should be carefully re-
moved, the plants raised in an upright
position by the hand, and some fine soil
hrown about them. In portions of
iome fields, where there is considerable
LAY, a hard crust will be found about
he young plants. This should be
broken with the hoe, pulverized, and
hen placed about the young plants.
# a rain occurred while the corn was
coming up, some of the sprouted corr
will be found partially exposed. In
uch cases fine earth should be drawn
Wer it with the hoe, SO that it will have
/ better chance to grow. Some hills,
perhaps a majority of them, will require
10 special attention.
1t is not hard work to 90 over a field
If corn in this way. Persons too old
" too young to perform ordinary field
abor can engage in it. If for any
cause the team is disabled or engaged
II other work, the ordinary field hands
IAN use the hoe for the purposes named.
IF the yield of corn can be increased
10 per cen by using the hoe in advance
If the cultivator, there will be economy
N hiring extra help at the time when
he corn is coming up. To insure the
argest crop of corr possible, the hoe
should be used in connection with the
.~ultivator during the entire growing
season. The improved c%ultivator Il
,e relied on to keep the soil between
The hills in good condition. but it viii
lot work the soil in the hill itself. J.
S not unfrequently the case that weeds
appear in the hills to the great damage
IF the corr crop, when there are none
between the rows. Sometimes the
~.ultivator throws pieces of turf or hard
earth against the young stalks of corn,
and when this is the case they should
pc removed by the hand hoe be-
[ ore they have caused serious damage.
1t is a good plan to have a boy follow
The cultivator, and to repair any dam
age it does.
To insure good work and ease in
handling, the hoe used for this purpose
should be kept sharp and clean. Hoes
are generally well polished when they
are bought, and by taking suitable pains
they can be kept in this condition till
they are worn out. They should be
thoroughly cleaned at the end of each
laws work, dried and oiled. Wien
not in use they should be kept under
cover, as scythes and other cutting inn
o1amentS are. THERE'S as much reason