Hillsboro recorder., 1888-05-31
AGRICULTURAL.
TOPICS OF INTEREST RELATIVE
10 FARM AND GARDEN.
In the Cornneld.

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The time for planting corn varies with
the latitude and after that depends much
upon the weather. As soon as the DAYS
are mild and the ground warm, when
ever that may be, is safe rule in all
localities. Three conditions are essen
tial to the production of paying crop
of corn-namely, good seed, q rich,
friable soil and thorough tillage. Pro-
gressive farmers here demonstrate the
economy of thorough preparation OF
the soil for the seed; indeed, not few
OF our most successful growers advocate
and practice as best and essential the cul-
tivation of the corn previous to planting;
that is to say, they do not use pillow
after planting, but let all the deep cul-
ture 81 the soil precede it.
Where manure is required, the better
way is to sow it broadcast and plough it
In, if it be coarse, or harrow it in if we'll
pulverized and decomposed. When
manure is Thoroughly Incorporated into
the soil the roots of the plants are GER.
tain to take it up, and the development
Of ear and grain will correspond with
that of stalk and leaves, which is not the
case when limited amouat OF fertilizer
is placed in the hill or drill only.
To gain the best results from the employ
ment Of stimulating elements in hill or
drill available plant food must be near
at hand, and in sufficient quantity, to
carry the plant, once started, on 10 the
perfection OF its growth. An early start
is great point gained, and the employ.
ment OF fertilizers in the drill is of de.
cided advantage, provided, as has been
already told, the,soil outside contains suf-
ficient food to keep up the growth of the
plant. Poultry manure and Peruvian
guano have each rendered valuable as
sistance Is stimulators, applied in the
drill.
Large areas are nowadays usually
planted in drills, and corn planters and
cultiyators are very generally adopted.
1t is generally conceded that planting in
drills induces the greatest yields, other
conditions being even. Flat culture is
being very generally adopted for the
corn crop, il having been long ago proven
that hills are not required, as was for
merly supposed, for the support Of the
corn plant. There Is also a saving oI
labor in the fat culture system.
A plan Of drill culture favored by somt
on light and naturally dryupland is what
is known as the ''furrow systemn oI
planting. The field is broken up a.
usual and made level. At time Of plant
ing one thorough narrowing is given anG
the ground laid OF and thrown up int
five.feet beds, the corn being plantet
IN the furrows. between the beds
The object Of this plan Is to iusur,
moisture to the crop. The fertilizers arr
sown in the bottom OF the burrows anC
mixed with the soil by running along III
furrows sharp single-shovel coulter o
dragging chain through it. Then tn
seed is dropped and covered. The afte
cultivation is done with cultivators
which gradually level down the surfac
of the beds, returning the soil to tn
corn and leaving the general surfac
level when completed.
The system of " checking" corn s
that the cultivation may be in two direC
tions--direct and across-is muc
practieed in the Northern and Wester
States. At the East and in many of th
Middle States, planting in drills and GU
tiyating shallow and fat with cultivate
and hoe, prevails among the more pre-
gressive farmers.
AS to the matter Of seed, farmers al
advised for their general crops, to plar
such varieties as in former seasons haS
proven successful in their own localitiI
and in similar soils. Small plots may |
probably employed to the testing I
new and promising kinds introduced
trustworthy seedmen or other farmers
Ner Yerk HorH.