The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-08-17
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.


Corn Culture.
Corn Is essentially q surface-rooted
plant, and is more liable to injury from
too deep blowing than cotton and other
cultivated plants. In its early stages
1t may be plowed close and deep. cut
ting and tearing away most of the
roots that extend towards the middles
and across the path of the pillow, with
out fatal results. But even while quite
small we have always believed that the
destruction of the roots involved in
in such blowing as may be necessary
on account of imperfect preparation,
or recent baking rains, is but choice
Of evils at least. Even at still fur
Their advanced stage of growth-up to
knee high-deep cultivation, though
cutting the roots more or less, may be
justifable. The conditions, however,
that will justify deep blowing at such
stage of the crop. are generally the
result of neglect or improper
management-where the ground Is so
infested with weeds of such size and
strength, or has been left unbroken at
all, that the barrow, sweep or cultiva-
tor will not do effective work. The
stage soon arrives when the remedy
IL as bad as the disease;" when to
pillow. or turn out" Is the question.
We utterly scout the idea recently adj
vocated by some writer's, that corn is
ever benefited by root-pruning per Sc.
Assuming that the corn-field was we'll
broken before planting. or deeply
plowed the first time, we would dis
card the scooter. shovel and other
root-breakers and use the surface cur
tivator thenceforward. A safe rule is
to use the pillow or implement. what
ever its name or constitution. that will
thoroughly stir the surface and go
over the greatest area In a day. A
broadcast harrow can be used until the
corn is ten inches high; then an ex-
panding cultivator, or cultivating har-
row is In order.
We are aware that these thoughts"
are not new, and possibly we may be
wearying the patience of some of our
readers in ''revamping" them for this
occasion. Our plea is that of all trades
or professions that of farming most
needs the Zine upon line, precept up
on precept" style of writing.
The cost of bushel of corn or q
pound of cotton is directly and largely
dependent on the number of burrows
laid in each row cultivated-the num-
Der of times a man and horse travels
the length of each row. We can not
afford to apply to an acre of land an
amount of labor equal to the value of
the crop, as is annually done on thou
sands of acres in the South. A farmer
can not afford to hire and maintain q
stout negro man and strong mule to
manipulate a pillow that would not
over-tax a twelve-year-old boy and q
yearling cali.
In many parts of the South the corn
crop will be ready to 'lay by from
the middle to the last Of the month.
Let the last working be thorough but
shallow. All things considered, the
best time sow peas in corn is at the
last plowin They shade the ground
more effeqtually and yield much
larger crok of roots and vines, and
often as much or even more peas. One
bushel Of seed peas to each acre is
usually recommended, but we would
be governS by the quantity of seed
available Better SOW one-half bushel,
or even DIS. per acre, and SOW the
whole crot. than to SOW thicker and
cover lbs area We believe q crop
of peas sown broadcast in corn, will.
under ordinary conditions, pay all the
expenses Of the corn crop, counting
the benefitto the land as well as the
value of peas or vines gathered for
forage.-Sbuthern Cultivator.