Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-04-04
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
The Corn Crop.

mon. everyday staff of life. Farmers
all know how to plant, cultivate and
harvest corn; they know its great
value for all the purposes for which it
is used; they are slow to change the
habits of thought and reliance of gen.
erations past.
We have before intimated our prefer
ence for the system of planting. on
beds more or less raised above the
original surface, those crops that are
planted early in the spring. Some
years of experience served TO confirm
us in the conviction that corn-early
corn especially do better on beds
than on dead-plain surface. The es-
sential advantage in planting on bed
consists in the fact that the "water-
furrow" acts as surface drain to re-
move the surplus water. That is
particularly observable on level or
comparatively level land, and espe-
cially If the spring be very wet
which is the rule and not the excep-
ton in the older portions OF the South.
The opening furrow, however, should
be deep and the seed corn should be
covered shallow--not more than one to
one and half inches. We are conf
dent that competitive trial of the two
methods, making all the other condi-
tions practically the same and con-
Quoted for several consec utive years,
would result in favor of planting on
beds instead of on the level surface.
We have tried planting in the water
furrow-between the beds--to our dis
satisfaction. If we could certainly fore
see very dry, warm spring, followed
by a dry May, June and July, it would,
doubtless, be wise expedient to plant
in the water-furrow. But our springs
are usually wet, and frequently cold
and late. The corn plant, according to
the variety planted, completes its
growth and natures its fruit within a
given period. 1t has its time for tas-
selling and its time for shooting and
caring. The conditions Of soil, fer
tilization, seasons and culture do
not materially alter these periods.
When it has reached one of
these critical points, particularly
the shooting, and silking and the ear
ing stage, it will not stand still-so to
speak-and wait for rain. This is
more or less true of all annual plants
that are cultivated for their seeds, and
which do not produce flower and fruit
successfully and continuously through
out considerable period. 1t is there
fore important that the seed should be
planted under the most favorable con-
ditions, and that the treatment in every
detail should be such as will tend to
the most rapid and perfect develop
ment of the plant. 1t should. as far as
we can control it, come up quickly and
commence at once, and continue with
out hindrance, its growth and success
i've development Of the blade, the stalk
and the "full corn in the ear" Cot
ton will bear degree of neglect; il
will recover entirely from the bad
treatment and unfavorable circum-
stances attending its earlier period Of
growth-if the bad treatment be re-
formed and unfavorable conditions be
removed. But we doubt if field oil
corn ever entirely RECEIVERS from the
effects of unfavorable and retarding
circumstances.
The time of planting is important
but experience, after all, is the only
safe guide, and experience has told
every man. according to particular To-
cality of his farm, or particular char
acter of soil, or other unchanging cir
cumstance, what is the best time tC
plant. The temperature OF the air on
any particular day, or the mean tenn
perature of the week that has JUS
past, the fight of birds, and the bios
soming of plants. are. not even helpful
signs, except as indicating to ,
stranger in a strange land that spring
is at hand. The rule we evolved
from years of practical experience il
this: Plant when the month and ii
you please), the day of the month
has arrived, which previous Elk
perience tells us involves tn,
least trouble in getting d fai
stand, the least expense in ate
culture aud the bcs: results in yield
J and when the ground is in good pillow
ing condition. We have repeated,
J planted corn when the ground wa
crusted by ice in the early morning
and yet a prompt termination and goo'
stand resulted inside of two weeks. Ii
, such cases the time had come" Il
plant corn; we were ready to plant
the ground was in blowing condition
and the cold snap was unreasonable an,
temporary. 1t requires from ten day
to two weeks for corn to come up
! when planted in the spring. What i
wanted is good, sunny, warm weathe
during the sprouting and coming up
II we plant now. when the air is warn
and balmy, we have no guarantee tina
the weather will not be rainy, or tn
: temperature down to freezing wee
or ten days hence.
II but small quantity of fertilizer
, is to be applied to corn we are conf
, dent that it should be concentrate
, about the seed instead of scattere
along between the hills We want tn
young plant to be able to draw on tn
fertilizer just as soon as it has put gu
its tiny feeders-even while still draw
ing from the milk of the mother grair
The manure, especially if it be cotto
seed, should not be thrown down in
, dab all in one spot but scattere
: around and near the seed corn. In tn
case of cotton-seed meal. or fertilize