The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-21
Corn Planting.

But We presume most farmers have made
thelr allotments Of fields to be planted in
corn, and are only awaiting the arrival of
the time to plant. When is the time to
plant Some wait for certain buds to
''swels certain trees to blossom, or for a
warm, dry spell after a certain day. It is
claimed that the early planted makes the
heavier corn and the heavier crop. The
earlier planted fields will come into silk
and tassel earlier than the late planted, but
not much earlier, especially if the earlier
planted encounters bad weather. Ga the
whole we think the best rule is to plant
when the ground is dry enough to pillow
well, and at the date which past expert.
ence shows to have generally given best re-
suits. Temperature of the air or ground
need not be considered. Corn that is planted
on day when the ground is frozen
IN the morning will be as apt to do well as
II the day were as balmy ss May. It is tina
character of the weather that prevails dur
ing the second and third week after plant
ing the seed, which determines the stand
and the vigor Of the young plants. Corn
requires from ten days to two weeks to
come up when planted in the spring; and
1t is matter oflittle moment whether the
ground is warm or not on the very day OF
planting. If the period of the year has ar
rived when We may reasonably expect q
suitable temperature for termination
within the next four or five days, or q
week, and the ground is not too wet to
plough, let the seed be planted. 1t is prob
able that the weather will be better in the
next Two weeks when it is bad at any given
date, and the second week is the more i'm
portsnt of the two.
How 10 Plant.-We do not believe in
water iurrow planting early in the spring,
however advisable later on. The planting
oiten cannot be done so early on account
IF ho uho0f
turrovj, and the heavy spring rains are
more damaging TO young crop In the
Water-furrow, beside other reasons. We
prefer breaking the land into fat beds with
deep, open water-furrow between, plant
ing In deep furrow opened along the
middle Of the bed and covering shallow.
This gives better drainage, q richer sur.
rounding soil, and greater Immunity from
carnage by the frequent heavy rains of
spring.
1t is surprising that farmers so often
overcrovd the land with plants in face of
experience. On land that will make ten to
twenty bushels per acre with average sea.
sons, an allowance of eighteen to twenty
one square feet to each stalk is
not too much. This will permit Of q
greater concentration of manure to the
hill, and consequent better development
OF individual stalks and ears. Allowing
100 stalks for each bushel OF corn, the land
Is expected to yield, we have the following
calculations: Planted by 4 feet, there
would be 2.722 plants per acre; yield, q
bushels. Planted AZ by4l<, or by 5,
would give 2, 178 plants; yield, 2l.78 bush
els. Planted by g. 1872 plants; yield,
1912 bushels. The celebrated David Dick
son gave by 81 feet on uplands capable
of producing Is bushels. Not an acre
should be planted in corn that will not
OF itself, or with the manure available,
yield at least 10 or II bushels of corn-20
would be better rule. The most glaripg
OF al our mistakes Is the continued annual
cultivation of acres, the yield of which
with the most favorable seasons will not
pay expenses. Multiply the number of
such acres until half the whole area in
cultivs ion is embraced, until half q state
1s included and is Ii any wonder that such
farmer are in depressed condstion?