The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-15
Kansas Farmer.

| Indian corn is undoubtedly the most impor
l tant grain crop grown in this country. 1t is,
also the crop of which, more than any other,
our farmers hold control of the worlds markets.
| It is grown in southern Europe, but it is not
| likely ever to be produced in quantities much
| larger than required for consumption in its own
| locality. And as its value as food, for man or
beast, becomes better known, is sure to meet
| an increased demand from England and other
countries of northern Europe. 1t u.s. indeed,
| though in growth semi tropical plant, better
adapted for use in colder and more northern eli
mates 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 fall
| en- off, corn and it's products have been proper
| tionatey in much better demand.
Corn is crop which we can much better
| afford to grow and to export than wheat, for it
| is not q robber of the scarcest mineral fer
| tilizer, phosphate of lime, as is the case with
wheat. Without doubt the expense of restoring
| exhausted wheat-lands is one reason why Eng
| lsh farmers have been gradually lessening their
| wheat product and devoting more of their land
| to crops whi:h will not impose this necessity.
| When we feel. as English farmers have done,
the expense of restoring wheat lands, some other
crop will be substituted, and it is quite as likely
| to be corn anything else.
Where corn fails on long cultivated ground, it
/ is more apt to be because the mechanical con-
dtion of the soil is bad rather than from lack Of
| plant food. Fertility of one kind corn does
X
! gen or ammonia But this, in soils containing
much vegetable matter is rapidly de-
veloped during summer by frequent cul-
tivation. And yet, on even the richest
| soils, q small quantity OF available
nitrates, applied 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 mat
ter how much fertility the soil contains, it is not
ready for USE Thus commercial Fertilizers are
| often proftaby used 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 per-
centage of ammonia that most phosphate fertil-
izersscontain that they owe their good effects on
| corn
Success in corn-growine is largely dependent
on thorough preparation of the soil. Corn loves
warmth, and its feeding roots run near the sur
| face. This must be made mellow and the heat
| secured by manure or sod fermenting in the soil
and by shallow blowing Another very i'm
portans point is blowing early in the season, thus
| giving chance for sun and air to warm the seed
bed before the corn is planted AS corn is
| usually and should be always planted on Sod the
| blowing can be done early, and while corn and
| potato stubbe are yet unfit to work. BY plant
| ing time this sod, If worked down, will begin to
ferment and thus furnish some bottom heat
which is worth moro to young 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 orfour inches the shoot
/ is imbedded In 1t to its detriment. Early in the
season the soil is always colder than the air. and
the closer corn is planted to the surface provid
ed the soil is compacted around the seed, the
better it will grow. Planting too deeply is often
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
/ deeply, and when rain comes on. heavy soil on
seed thus covered the crop is stunted 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 the surface to receive the fullest
| benefit of the sun and warm air. Later in the
| season, as the ground becomes thoroughly heat
/ ed and dryer, corn roots will run deeper. On
heavy Soils however, they should always start
| near the surface. oIae ne
| Thorough cultivation through the growing
season is essential to making good corn crop.
| Undoubtedly the teeth of the cultvator cut off
| many corn roots but in growing time these are
| quickly replaced. and even increased in number
! to utilize the increased amount of plant food
| which the cultivation supplies. Some judgments
| Is required in cultivatiDg corn. Occasionally,
| late in the season, when the soil is excessively
dry, it may be injurious. Corn roots may be
| cut off by tha cultivator when the plant cannot
| readily replace them, and If this comes just
| when the corn is caring the tillipg may do more
| harm than good. We have known a few such
| cases. only enough. however, to make the ex-
| ceptions to the general rule that thorough cult
walton of corn is beneficial Except at caring
| time. when severe drouth prevails days work
with horse and cultivator among the corn is
worth more than any other work which the
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