The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-25
In the CornfeId.

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 a sale rule in all
localities. Three conditions are essen
tial to the production of a paying crop
of corn-namely, good seed, a rich,
iriable soil and thorough ti|lage. Pro-
gressive farmers here demonstrate the
economy of thorough preparation Of
the soil for the seed; indeed, not a few
OF our most successful growers advocate
and pra, tice as best and essential the cul-
tivation of the corn previous to planting;
that is to say, they do not use a plow
after planting, but let all the deep cul-
ture of the soil precede it.
Where manure is required, the better
way Is to sow it broadcast and plough it
ia, if it be coarse, or harrow it in if we'll
pulverized and decomposed. When
manure is thorougly incorporated into
the soil the roots of the plants arc 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 amount of fertilizer
is placed in the hill or drill only.
To gain the lest 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 to 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 as stimulators, applied in the
drill.
Large areas are nowadays usually
planted in drills, and corn planters and
cult, ators are very gcaerally 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, it having been long ago proven
that hills are not required, as was for
merly supposed, for the support of the
SoAA Pioht. lheic 10 dlSo q saving VI
labor IN the fat culture system.
A plan of drill culture favored by some
on light and naturally dry upland is what
is known as the '!furrow system OF
planting. The field is broken up as
usual and made level. At time of plant
iBg one thorough narrowing is given and
the gronnd laid off and thrown up into
fve.feet beds, the corn being planted
in the furrows. between the beds.
The object of this plan is to insure
moisture to the crop. The fertilizers are
sown il the bottom of the furrows and
mixedswith the soil by running along the
furrows sharp single, shovel coulter OF
dragging chain through it. Then the
seed is dropped and covered. The after
cultivation is done with cultivators,
which gradually level down the surface
of the beds, returning the soil to the
corn and leaving the general surface
level when completed.
The system of checking" corn so
that the cultivation may be in two direc-
tious-direct and across-is much
practiced in the Northern and Western
States. At the East and in many of the
Middle States, planting in drills and cul'
tivating shallow and fat with cultivator
and hoe, prevails among the more pro-
gressive farmers.
AS to the matter of seed, farmers are
advised for their general crops, to plant
such varieties as in former seasons have
proven successful in their own localities
and in similar soils. Small plots may be
proftably employed to the testing of
new and promising kinds introduced by