Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-19
FOR TIE FARMER.
Conflicting Ideas in Regard to the Proper
Methods of Planting Corn.
Quaint Reasons for Abandoning the T,rIn
Preventing Hog Cholera.
CORN CULTURE.

CORN CULTURE.
During the past two years so many
different and conflicting recommended
tions have been made in relation to
the planting and cultivation of corn
that young farmers are in greater
doubt about how to perform these OPP
erations than before anything had
been published on the subject. Some
have advocated planting corn in
drills. and others in hills, and each
class has reported large crops as the
result of their peculiar method of put
ting in seed. a few have advocated
dropping corn on the bottom of fur
row, covering the seed about an inch
deep, aud throwing the soil against
the young plants as they increase in
height. They claim that the roots of
corn do not of their own accord pene
trate the soil to any great distance,
but that the stalks throw out laterals
above the level at which the seed was
planted. By planting deep and draw
ing earth about the stalks they claim
that they encourage the formation of
roots that supply nutriment, and keep
the stalks from being blown down. A
few others have advised putting the
seed on the top of the ground, while
the majority of writers have counseled
placing it between these two extremes
an inch or more below the surface.
As much conflicting advice has been
given concerning the proper cultiva-
ton of corn as about planting the
seed. Some have recommended level
AMI others hill culture. A few have
stated that no cultivation 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 injury to the roots. They would
let the soil severely alone, or would
only disturb it with view to prevent
ing the growth of weeds. Others, on
the contrary, would give it no more
rest than the small boy ordinarily has
on farm where several men are en-
ployed. They would run light har-
row over the ground before tie corn
plants make their appearance. They
would use the harrow again as soon as
the plants are two or three inches
high. When the rows are distinctly
marked they would begin to use the
cultvator, and would continue to en-
ploy it till the stalk was three or four
feet high. They would then put in a
pillow and throw burrows against the
hills from all sides. They would con-
tinue to use the pillow till ears are
formed on the stalks.
A Missouri farmer who claims to
have raised very large crops of corn
for a series of years on somewhat cold
clayey land, reVerses this method of
cultivation. He uses first the pillow,
then the cultivator, and last of all the
harrow. He runs burrows between
the rows as soon as the corn is few
inches high, so as to allow the sun to
warm the soil and to afford drainage
in the early part of the season when
the ground is likely to be quite moist.
After the soil is quite dry and warm
he substitutes the cultivator for the
pillow and uses 1t till the stalks of corn
are about knee-high. He thinks its
employment after that time is iniur-
ious, as the cultivator teeth cut off the
roots of the corn and often become
clooged up with them. He is not
believer in the root-pruning system as
applied to corn, and accordingly he
finishes up his culture with q harrow.
This prevents the growth of grass and
weeds, stirs the surface soil, supplies
a dust mulch which retards evapora-
ton and does not injure the roots of
the plants, which he thinks should not
be disturbed.
The question of the deep or shallow
culture of corn received great atten-
ton throughout the west during last
season. As in other things, there is
the widest difference of opinion in re-
gard to the matter. Some have held
that the implement that works the soil
should penetrate it but few inches,
for the reason that it Injuries or de-
stroys the roots of the corn. But
Others contend that great benefit re-
suits from root pruning it. These
differences of opinion on the part of
farmers who profess to raise large
crops of corn are probably due to the
circumstance that they write from Sec
tions Of the country having peculiar
soil that must be treated in certain
manner to produce the best results.
Communications on the subject of the
preparation of land for 4 crop of corn,
the method of planting. and the mode
of cultivation are solicited. In giving
methods and reporting results it is de-
sirable to have farmers state the va
riety of corn they raise, the character
of the soil they till, and the length of
the growing season in the localities
where they live. A large corn crop
Is greatly needed this season, and a
presentation of what each farmer
knows on the subject referred to will
do much toward securing it.