The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-20
FARMS AND FARMERS.
Short Talks With the Men Who
Guide the PlOW.
Planting Corn in Water Furrow,
EDITED By DIR. W. L. JONES.

Planting Corn i'll Water Furrow.
The term water fuwow is usually applied
TO the last furrow run between beds In con-
nection with corn planting, we propose to give
1t a wider meaning, viz: planting in u deep
furrow, so that when the corn comes up the
young plants shall be below the general sur
face. If the land has been broken broadcast
and rows laid off with a broad shovel and the
grain dropped in them and covered without
completely filling the shovel furrow-in such
case we should say corn was planted in water
furrow. Is it good practice to do this? On
high, dry land we think it is; first because it
renders cultivation very easy. A harrow can
be run over the field broadcast and throw
enough dirt in the still untitled furrow to cover
and kill the young grass which may have
come up with the corn. This may be done at
first and second workings, and the corn left
entirely clean and upon level surface
Or, if one prefers, sweep or scrape
run around the edge of the furrow will do
the same thing. BY this time the corn will
be large enough to bear drifting sufficiently to
Kill any grass that may afterward come up
This plan, therefore, allows exclusive cultva-
ton OF corn with the pillow, in itself very
great desideratum. Second, because corn
sends out successive whorls of roots one above
another, and when it is planted in water fur
row these can spread out laterally in theIsoil
instead of having to push their way downward
or else have beds thrown up for them to spread
themselves in. 1t allows, moreover, a greater
number of these whorls of roots, to reach the
soil successfully and take part in supporting
the plant. This is quite an important consid-
Grafton. As the corn advances i'll growth the
first formed roots gradually cease to work,
and the plant depends mainly upon the last
formed. AS the period of caring approaches
the plant sends out all these upper whors of
roots it can. Some times they spring from
several joints above the surface, part of
which fail to reach the soil and are practically
useless. Planting in the water furrow pre-
vents this failure i'll measure.
In the third place, it allows the application
of manure to the hill of corn, at a compare
lively late stage of growth, without the ne
cessity of running deep siding burrows, which
might cut its roots-Such are some of the ad-
vantages; what are the disadvantages. The
greatest is the settling of water in the open
furrow, and if not run on level, the washing
out of the corn by heavy rains. To counterfeit
the baking and crusting of the soil over the
grain in the open furrow, the corn should al
ways be covered with small list. But great
care should be taken to cover it very shallow.
This was discussed last week. We have lust
seen the results of series of experiments
made at the Ohio experiment station, in which
the grain was covered one inch, two, three and
four inches. That covered one inch deep,
gave decidedly the best results-both as re-
CARDS the number of bushels and the percent
age of understandable corn. The yield OF grain
per acre was twelve bushels greater when
covered one inch deep, than at any other
depth. The average yields for four years, of
grain covered one, two and three inches were,
respectively; G3.G, oil, 1853 bushels per acre.
Such results, happening uniform, through four
successive years, can hardly be accidental.
The matter certainly deserves attention.
w. L. J.