The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-05-16
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
The Corn Crop.

and down to the close of February, a
liberal area to oats for summer feeding |
of work-stock, next in order is the corn |
crop, which has been, and will con-
tinue to be for years to come, the chief |
reliance for stock, and the more COM |
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 specially-will do better on beds
than on dead-plain surface. The es-
sential advantage in planting on bed
consists in the fact that the ''water-
furrown acts as a 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 a 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 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
|
given period. 1t has its time for tas-
selling and it's 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. it's 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 BAG
treatment and unfavorable circum-
stances attending its earlier period o
growth-if the bad treatment be re
formed and unfavorable conditions b.
removed. But we doubt if field O
corn ever entirely RECEIVERS from thu
effects of unfavorable and retardinl
! circumstances.
, The time of planting is important
: but experience, after all, is the onl.
! safe guide, and experience has toll,
$ every man, according to particular 10
b cality of his farm, or particular char
t acter of soil, or other unchanging cir
9 cumstance, what is the best time t
9 plant. The temperature of the air o.
!. any particular day, or the mean ten
t perature of the week that has jus
# past, the fight of birds, and the bios
S soming of plants, are not even helpfr
g signs, except as indicating to
o stranger in a strange land that sprin
Is is at hand. The rule we evolve
Y from years of practical experience
e this: Plant when the month and
. you please), the day of the month
n has arrived, which previous e1
a perience tells us involves th
.e least trouble in getting a fa
d stand, the least expense in aftt
n culture and the best results in yielt
r and when the ground is in good ploy
b ing condition. We have repeated
ID planted corn when the ground W;
s. crusted by ice in the early morning
81 and yet prompt termination and GOO
k stand resulted inside of two weeks.
i. such cases the time had Gomez
IN plant corn; we were ready to plan
is the ground was in blowing conditio
ne and the cold snap was unreasonable al
e. temporary. 1t requires from ten da,
il to two weeks for corn to come II
1e when planted in the spring. What
IN wanted is good, sunny, warm wealth
er during the sprouting and coming u
1