St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-05-05
IN THE CORN-FiELD.
The Economy of Thorough Preparation
of the Soil.

The ECONOMY OF a thorough preparation
of the Soil.
The time for planting corn varies
with the latitude and after that de-
ponds much upon the weather AS
soon as the days are mild and the
ground warm, whenever that may be,
!. is safe rule in all localities. Three
conditions are essential to the pro-
duction of a paying crop of corn
namely. good seed, rich, friablc soil
and thorough tillage. Progressive
farmers have demons trated the econo-
NY of thorough preparation of the
soil for the seed; indeed, not a 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 culture of the soil preceede it.
Where manure is required, the bet
ter way is to sow it broadcast and
plow it in, if it be coarse. or harrow it
in if well pulverized and decomposed.
When manure is thoroughly incor-
porated in the soil the roots of the
plants are certain 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 a
limited amount of fertilizer is placed
in the hill or drill only. To gain the
best results from the employment 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 to
the perfection of it's growth. An
early start is a great point gained,
and the employment of fertilizers in
the drill is of decided advantage, pro-
vided, as has already been told, the
soil outside contains sufficient food tc
keep up the growth of the plant.
Poultry manure and Peruvian guanc
have each rendered valuable assist
ance as stimulators, applied in tbs
drill.
Large areas are nowadays usually
planted in drills, and corn planters
and cultivators are very generally
adopted. 1t is generally conceded
that planting in drills induces the
greatest yields, other conditions be.
ing even. Flat culture is being very
generally adopted for the corn crop,
it having been long ago proven that
hills are not required, as was former
ly supposed, for the support of the
corn plant. There is also saving OF
labor in the fiat culture system.
A plan of drill culture favored by
some on light and naturally dry up.
land is what is known as the 'furrow
SYSTEM of planting: The field is
broken up as usual and made level.
At time of planting one thorough har-
rowing is given and the ground laid
eff and thrown up into fve-feet beds.
the corn being planted in the fur.
rows between the beds. The object
of this plan is to insure moisture to
the crop. The fertilizers are sown
in the bottom of the burrows and
mixed with the soil by running
along the burrows a sharp single.
shovel coulter or dragging chain
through il. Then the seed is dropped
and covered. The after cultivation is
done with cultivators, which gradually
level down the surface of the beds, re-
turning the soil to the corn and leay-
ing the general surface lev ell when
completed.
As to the matter of seed, farmers
are advised for their general crops, tc
plant such varieties as in former sea.
sons have proven successful in their
own localities and in similar soils. |
Small plots may be proftably en-
ployed to the testing of new and
promising kinds introduced by trust
worthy seedmen or other farmers. -
~ Y World