Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-05-03
a Few Reflections on Corn Raising
Rural New Yorker.

mural NcN ADlhNE
The corn crop Of this country can DO
doubled without increasing the amount
OF fertilizers at present used, or the
acreage. This statement will doubtless
be questioned by large number of in
telligont farmers. There is no other
crop IA the United States about the cul-
uyation of which there is such differ
ence of opinion or the best way OF oul.
tivaung which is so little understood.
Three-tourths OF the farmers who grow
corn at AL cultivate IL either too much or
improperly. BY cultivation | mean the
work given TO the corn after il is up aud
growing, and not the preparation of the
soil before planting. Corn requires but
comparatively little cultivation il the
soil has been properly prepared before
hand, and whatever work IL receives
| should be given when the crop Ia quito
young. Thoroughly breaking and pull
verifying the eod are the most important
considerations. The cultivation should
begin rs coon as the corn ia clearly up
with either harrow or cutivRtor, and
the work should DO continued until the
crop is laid by. If the corn is planted
in checks, one good blowing each way will
secure good crop, other conditions be-
ing favorable. 1t should be laid by be-
fore 1t Is knee high, and the last blowing
| should be very shallow. turning pillow
should never go in cUrnheld after che
corn 10 planted. The modern one-horso
turning pillow has destroyed millions of
bushels OF corn, and the same may be
said OF long shank double shovel. The
| turning pillow leaves tho field in ridges,
while level culture is the proper thing.
The double shovel will go too deep in
spite of the plowman, and mutilate
the young lateral corn roots. Every
time these roots are bruised or broken
tho corn is damaged. Root pruning ia
an advantage TO barren fruit tree but IL
should not be praoticed in the cultivation
of corn crop.
TO grow corn successfully, make the
soil fertile If not already so; break deep;
pulyeri2e thoroughly; run 4 drag over IL
and let IL take a rain or two. Re break il
not quite 80 deepi harrow again, then RIM
q drag over 1t TO make it smooth Lay 1t
of 3l6 20 AZ feet each way. Plant good,
sound corn. Begin TO cultivate early, and
quit early. Do not be too impatient TO
plant. Better TO wait until the ground
gets warm. II you plant toe early the
corn will make a slow start; the stalk will
get hard and the crop will never do so
well; besides, the grass or weeds may got
ahead of the corn, Put tho turning pillow
and double-shovel under the tool shed IA
soon as the corn is plaHted, and use the
cultivator and one.horse harrow with
short teeth,
In breaking tho land good coat OF
young grass and weeds will be turned un.
der, and millions OF seeds Just gormina-
ting will be destroyed, thus making the
labor Of cultivation much less.
10 is fallaoy 10 throw up n big ridge
next to the ooru TO keep it from being
blown down. The roots hold up the corn.
Just as well pile soil around a fruit tree
TO keen II from being blown down. IL is
a fallacy TO pillow corn deep when 1t is
silking, during q drouth, 90 bring no the
moisture. Tho blowing ia a serious in
jury. If the soil has been properly pre-
pared the moisture will be brought up by
capillary attraction. II ia fallacy 20 un-
dertake, by Ave or six plosiugs in a Geld
of growing corn, 20 do the work that
ought TO have been done before planting.