The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-07
OUR FARM BUDGET
Corr Culturs--Indiana Live S.csk--l Cream
sry--Enrichlrg Mix by Feeding.
To Start Sweet POtatoes-spring and Win
ter Onions Farm Notes-Rsceipts-
HomeIy Saws The Poultry Yard
Farm and Stock Notes.
Corn Culture.
IChieacn Times [


been made in relation to the planting and
cultivation OF corn that young farmers are
in greater doubt about how to perform
these operations than before anything had
been published on the subject- Some have
advocated planting corn in drills, and
Others In hills, aud each class has reported
large crops as the result of their peculiar
method of putting in seed. A few have
advocated dropping corn on the bottom Of
q fuIrow, covering the seed about an inch
deep, and throwing the soil against the
youpg plants as they increase in height.
They claim that the roots OF corn do not OF
their own acco I'D penetrate the soil to any
distaL ce, but that the stalks throw out
laterals above the level at which the SEED
wss planted. By planting deep and draw
ing earth about the stalks they claim that
they encourage the formation of roots
that supply Dutfiment, and keep the stalks
from beiEg blown down. a few others
nave ADVISED putting the seed on the TOP Of
the erOuDd, while the majority of write
have cOunseled putting il between these
TWO extremes-an iEch or m0le below the
,urfcce.
AS much conflicting advice has been
given concerning the proper cultivation OF
corn as about planting the seed. Some
have recommended level and others hill
culture. A few have stated that no Guilt
walton is required, except to prevent the
growth of grass and weeds. They have
stated that the soil should not be disturbed
more than an inch below the surface for fear
of doing I'M uTy TO the roots. They would
let the soil severely alone, or would only
disturb it with view to preventing the
growth Of weeds. Oilers, on the contrary,
CIV - Ill
boy ordinarily has on a farm where several
men are employed. They would run a
light harrow over the ground before the
CORD plants make their appearance. They
would use the harrow again as coon as the
plants are two or three inches high. When
the lows are distinctly marked they " Guild
begin to use the cultivator, and would
continue 10 employ it till the stalk was
three or four feet high. They would then
put in plow aud throw burrows against
the hills from all sides. They would con-
true 10 use the plow till ears are formed on
the STALKS
A Missouri farmer who claims to have
raised very large crops OF corn for q series
of years on somewhat cold clsyey land, re-
verss this method of cultivation. He uses
first TIE ploT, then the cultivator, and last
of all the barrow He runs burrows be-
tween The lows as sOOn rs the corn is few
inches high, so as o allow the sun to warm
the soil and to afford drainage ia the early
pert Of the season when the ground is like
ly to be quite moist. AT er the soil i
quite dry and warm be substitutes the cut
tivator for the ploT and uses il till tn
stalks of corn are about knee high. a.
thinks Its employment after that time is
in iuriOuP, as the cultivator teeth cut oil
the roots of the corn and often become
clofged up with them. he is not be-
lever in the root -pruning system as applied
10 corn, and accordingly he finishes up his
culture With a harrow. This prevents the
growth of grass and weeds, stirs the surface
soil, supplies dust mulch which retards
evaporation and does not injure ne roots
of the plants, which he thinks hould not
be disturbed.
The question of the deep or shallow
culture of corn received great attention
throughout the West during the last
season. As IN other things, there is the
widest difference of opinion in regard to
the matter. Some have held that the i'm
plement that works the soil should pene-
tIate it but few inches, for the reason
that 1t Injuries or destroys the root Of the
corn. But others contend that great bsds
ft results from root pruning it. These
differences OF opinion on the part of f4rm-
ers who profess to raise large crops of c)rn
are probably due to the circumstance that
they write from sections of the country
having peculiar soil that must be treated
in a certain manner to produce the b 'at
results. Communications on the subject
OF the preparation of land for crop of
corn, the method of planting, and the
mode OF cultivation are solicited. In
giving methods and reporting results it is
desirable TO have farmers state the variety
oil, corn they raise, the character OF the
soil they till, and the length of the grow.
ing season in the localities where they
live, A large corn cropis greatly needed
this season, and a presentation of what
each farmer knows on the subject re-
ferTed to will do much toward securingit.