The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-02
COVERING CORN.

1890 AN"N4O 0AN A1u1C1 CONSI1uR.
1t is sometimes said that the later the
planting the heavier and firmer should
be the covering; but this is true only
so far as it holds good that the later
in the season the drier the ground.
Sometimes the ground contains more
moisture in May than in April; then
the May covering should be the lighter
and looser. Generally, however, to-
ward the close of the planting season
the ground has lost so much moisture
that not only should the covering be
heavy, but it may we'll be compacted
by a stroke with the hoe or even by
tramping upon it. If the planting is
done with a two-horse planter, the
runners are properly set to run deeper
and the frming action of the wheels
is not disturbed. In fact, if the
ground is unusually dry, it is advis-
able to 60 over the field with a heavy
roller two days after the corn is
planted. termination has net yet
reached the stage where the displace-
ment of the earth by the roller will
prove injurious to the corn, while
this displacement will kill myriads of
weeds that have just started neal the
surface. If used early enough, a
roller is a good weed destroyer. If,
on the other hand, the ground is
damp, as it is most likely to be early
IN the season, less covering is required,
and the covering should not be COM
pacted with the hoe or foot. If the
planting is done with a two-horse
planter the harrow should follow
close after, to loosen the covering
compacted by the wheels. The
amount of density of the covering
should also be modified by the char
acter of the soil. A light, loose soil
therefore one that dries out rapidly
may we'll be compacted above the
seed when a heavy clayey soil should
be kept loose, and the covering of the
former should be heavier than the
latter. The general principle is that
the covering should be sufficient to
keep moisture about the seed, but not
of a character to retain an excess of
moisture or to shut out the warmth of
the sun; and the shallowest covering
that will secure the essential condi-
tions of termination is the best.
Better two vigorous stalks than
four weak ones, because crowded and
sparingly fed.
For cut worms, try a mixture of
one part of salt and two parts of land
plaster, dropping a little at each hill.
One warm day does not make the
proper S for planting any more
than one swallow makes a summer.
The man who waited to begin cul.
tivation until he could see the plants
found that the weeds we're earlier
than he.
Select seed carefully, and keep
selecting. Build up. Pedigree in
corn is just as valuable as pedigree in
or Poland China.
A study of the methods by which
three times the average yield of corn
was made shows that in all there is an
unusual amount of work expended in
preparing the seed bed.
Don't plant before the ground is
thoroughly warm. By gaining a week
in the time of planting you are aptto
lose two weeks in the time of harvest
and twenty per cent. of the crop.
Drilling produces the larger yield
and profit, except on very foul ground.
If you have purchased such grounds
you will be excused for planting in
hills until you can cleanse the land.
There cannot be a good crop with
out a good stand; and there cannot
be a good stand without good seed
seed that will do more than terminate;
that will produce inherently vigorous
as well.
Corn may do well on billy land
Though the crop must be unevenl
bnt nearly always the land will lose
heavily by the denuding action of
rain-often so heavily as to make
grass or small grain a more profitable
crop.
In the Northern States, to lengthen
the a would be to increase the
crop, nine years in ten. Hence, the
first measure to increase the yield on
land not thoroughly drained naturally
is through artificial drainage.
If the 1888 corn crop were loaded
on two-horse wagons, 33 bushels to
the load, and the wagons were placed
26 feet apart, or as nearly as possible
in a string, the string of wagons
would reach twelve times around the
600 miles!
Nothing promises to so revolution
ize the present waste of r fodder
IN the West as the new but growing
practice of cutting the field corn close
to the ground as soon as the kernel,
are well glazed and putting the whole
crop directly into the silo, either
or cut into half-inch lengths,
and al.-AmerIcan A~gricuhursst.