The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-08-24
THE FARM.
Planting Corn for Ensiia.e.

How shall we plant? A short, easy
rule is this: Plant, cultivate and care
for Just as you would to secure the most
field corn, just as you did before silos
and silage were heard of. Of course,
methods will vary some with locality,
soil and the person who grows the crop.
| prefer to plant on plowed sod, which
has been generously covered early the
preceding winter with fresh BARNARD
manure. As soon as our oats are in,
this work. oat seeding, is FASTENED by
using cuts away harrow in lieu of a
pillow. After the sod is plowed the cut
away harrow is used to mellow IT. de-
sire a deep, mellow seed bed. We aim
to have our ground in readiIess by MAY
20. 1t does not pay to hasten planting
too much. When planted, the corn
should commence at once to germinate
and should push up rapidly and yigor-
ously, which is only possible with
warmth and sunshine.
1t is also wise precaution that should
never be forgotten, to test our seed be-
fore planting time arrives. This is es-
pecially important in case we purchase
our seed. If we save our own seed.
which is always wise, selecting the best,
and hanging 1T in a warm, dry room, so
that it viii dry out early and thoroughly,
then we may be pretty sure that every
kernel Will terminate; but even then
testing makes assurance doubly sure"
This testing is a very simple matter. We
have only to put certain number of
kernels in "A box of moist earth about as
we would plant them, and keep the box
in n warm room. If all or nearly all send
up the sprout, then we know our seed
is good, and need have no solicitude in
planting it.
/ find | can grow the most corn with
the least labor to plant in drills. | have
no special corn drill doubt if the
average farmer can afford to purchase
one-so | use my grain drill. All but
the two outside feeders are stopped up
with wooden plugs. This makes the
rows four and one-half feet apart. In
this way we put on about ten or twelve
quarts of corn to the acre. Pretty thick,
do you say? Yes, but corn is cheap; and
if planted so thick the cut worms can
take some and yet do little harm, and
We can drag up some and yet have
enough for first-class crop of corn. In
thus drilling, we space every other row
with the eye. With care this can be done
so as to please the most fastidious. We
must also watch the hose, lest they clog
with some sod or clod, and we drop no
corn. In this way it is possible to plant
ten acres in a halliday. / like this
method. 1t requires no machinery not
already on the farm, it il "A cheap and
easy way to plant, and best of all, it has
given magnificent crops of corn.
Nearly or quite as soon as the corn IS
all planted, especially if we have rains
to compact the soil, / put a fine tooth
harrow to work. This may be very
large, so as to barrow wide space IL
once crossing the field. The teeth are
small and slant back. BY use of this
the soil is mellowed, and the ever-pres-
ent weeds just peering through the
ground are uprooted and destroyed.
This narrowing Is continued till the
corn is three or four inches above the
ground, and the stalks so thinned that
maximum yield of corn is insured. As
result the weeds are largely van
pushed, the corn is pushed to a most
vigorous growth, so that IT only remains
to cultivate the crop with aspiring tooth
cultivator till it becomes too large to
work. Thus all hand labor is avoided,
weeds are very scarce, even in the rows,
and good crop is secured. We must be
sure to SO thin our corn as to secure a
maximum yield of grain. This will also
add to the value of the stalks.-Prof.
4. j. Cook.