The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-04-19
A Few Reflections on Corn Raising.

KY, says in the Rural NeD YORKER:
The corn crop of this country can b
doubled without increasing the amour
of fertilizers at present used, or the acre
age. This statement will doubtless b
questioned by large number of intelli
gent farmers. There is no other crop il
the United States about the cultivation
of which there is such a diferenc o
opinion, or the best way of cultivatint
which is so little understood. Three
fourths of the farmers who grow corn a
all cultivate il too much or improperly
By cultivation mean the work given the
crop after it is up and growing, and moi
the preparation of the soil before plant
ing. Corn requires but comparatively
little cultivation if the soil has been
properly prepared before hand; and
whatever work it receives should be
given when the crop is quite young
Thoroughly breaking and pulverizing
the soil are the most important consider
ations. The cultivation should begin az
soon as the corn is cleverly up with
either a harrow or cultivator, and the
work should be continued until the crop
is laid by. If the corn is planted in
checks, one good plowing each way will
secure a good crop, other conditions
being favorable. 1t should be laid by
before it is knee high, and the last plow.
ing should be very shallow. A turning
plow should never go in a corn field
after the crop is planted. The modern
one.horse turning plow has destroyed
millions of bushels of corn, and the same
may be said of the long shank double.
shovel. The turning.plow leaves the
field in ridges, while level culture ia the
proper thing. The double shovel will 60
too deep in spite of the plowman, and
mutilate the young lateral corn roots
Every time these roots are bruised OF
broken the corn is damaged. Root.
pruning is an advantage to barren fruit
tree, but it should not be practiced in
the cultivation of.a corn crop.
To grow corn successfully, make the
soil fertile if not already so break deep
pulverize thoroughly; run drag over il
and let it take rain or two. Rebreak
it not quite so deep; harrow again; ther
run drag over it to make it smooth
Lay it off 81 to 4A feet each way. Plant
good, sound corn. Begin to cultivate
early, and quit early. Do not be too i'm
patient to plant. Better to wait until
the ground gets warm. If you plant toe
early the corn will make slow start
the stalks will get hard and the crop will
never do so we'll, besides, the grass OF
weeds may get ahead of the corn. Put
the turning.plow and double shovel
under the toolshed as soon as the corn
is planted, and use the cultivator and 9
one horse harrow with short teeth.
In breaking the land, good coat ol
young grass and weeds will be turned
under, and millions Of seed just germi'
mating will be destroyed, thus making
the labor of cultivation much less.
It is fallacy to throw up big ridge
next to the corn to keep it from being
blown down. The roots hold up the
corn. Just as we'll pile soil around
fruit tree to keep it from being blown
down. 1t lis a fallacy to plow corn deep
when it is silking, during drought, to
bring up the moisture. The plowing is 9
serious injury. If the soil has been
properly prepared the moisture will be
brought up by capillary attraction. 1t is
fallacy to undertake, by FIVE or six plow'
ings in q field of growing corn, 10 do the
work that ought to be done before plant
ing.