Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-04-13
A Few Refeotiong on Oorn-Raising.

Correspondence Rural New Yorker:
The corn crop of this country can be
doubled without increasing the amount
of fertilizers at present used, or the
acreage. This statement viii doubtless
be questioned by a large number of
intelligent farmers. There is no other
crop in the United States about the
cultivation of which there is such a
difference of opinion, or the best way
of cultivating, which is so little under
stood Three-fourths of the farmers
who grow corn cultivate it either too
much or improperly. By cultivation
mean the work given to the crop
after it is up and growing, and not the
preparation of the soil before planting.
! 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 considerations. The
cultivation should begin as soon as the
corn is cleverly up with either a harrow
or cuItivator, and the work should be
continued until the crop is laid by. 1.-THE
corn is planted in checks, one good
! blowing each way Will secure a good
crop, other conditions being favorable.
It should be laid by before it is knee
high. and the last blowing should be
| very shallow A turning pillow should
never 90 in a cornfeld after the crop is
planted. The modern one-hOrse turn
ing pillow has destroyed millions of
/ bushels of corn, and the same may be
said Of the lOng-shank double shovel.
The turning pillow leaves the field IN
ridges, while level culture Is the proper
thing. The double shovel viii 60 too
deep in spite of the plOwman. and
mutilate the young lateral corn roots.
Every time these roots are bruised or
broken the corn is damaged. Root
pruning Is an advantage to a 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
, it and let 1t take a rain or two. Re
break it not quite 50 deep; harrow again
, and then run drag over it to make it
smooth Lay it off 81 to Al feet each
way. Plant good, sound corn. Begin
to cultivate early, and quite early. Do
, not be too impatient to plant. Better
! to wait until the ground gets warm.
! / LII YOU plant too early the corn VIII
? make a slow start; the stalks VIII get
, hard and the crop VIII never do so well
, besides, the grass or weeds may get
ahead Of the corn. Put the turning
! pillow and dOuble-shOvel under the tool
q shed as soon as the corn is planted, and
2 use the cuItivators and a one. horse har
( row with short teeth.
In breaking the land a good coat o.
+ young grass and weeds VIII be turned
n under, and millions of seeds Just ger
4 minating will be destroyed, thus max
r ING the labor of cultivation much less
1t is a fallacy to throw up big ridgl
. next to the corn to keep it from bein3
blown down. The roots hold up thu
O corn. Just as well pile soil around
v fruit tree to keep it from being blow
4 down It is fallacy to pillow corn dee
= when it Is silking, during drouth, t
Il bring up the moisture. The plOwin
y is a serious injury. If the soil has bee
Il properly prepared the moisture VIII b
n brought up by capillary attraction. ]
is a fallacy to undertake, by Ave O
n six pIowings In a field of growing cor1
I to do the work that ought to have bee
ri done before planting
e. The president of France has an ii