The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-03-27
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
The Corn Crop.

liberal area 10 OaJS 1Or SuilllSi loOaluS
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, very-day 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 intimatcd our prefer
ence for the system OF planting, on
beds more or less raised above the
original surface. those crops that arc
planted early in the spring. Some
years of experience served to confirm
us in the conviction that corn-early
corn especially-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-
furr0w" 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 q 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 secutive years,
would result in favor Of planting on
beds instead of on the level surface.
We have tried planting in the water
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 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 it's 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 d 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 thore-
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; it
will recover entirely from the bad
treatment and unfavorable circum-
stances attending it's earlier period of
growth-if the bad treatment be re-
formed and unfavorable conditions be
removed. But we doubt if a field of
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 to
plant The temperature of the air on
any particular day, or the mean tenn
perature of the week that has just
past, the flight of birds, and the bios
soming of plants, are not even helpful
signs, except as Indicating to. a
stranger in u strange land that spring
is at hand. The rule we evolved
from years of practical experience is
this: Plant when the month and Gil
you please), the day of the month,
has arrived, which previous ex.
perience tells us involves the
least trouble in getting a fair
stand, the least expense in after
culture and the best results in yield
and when the ground is in good pillow
ing condition. We have repeatedly
planted corn when the ground was
crusted by ice in the early morning
and yet prompt termination and goot
stand resulted inside of two weeks. Ir
such cases the time had come" tt
plant corn; we were ready to plant
the ground was in blowing condition
and the cold snap was unreasonable ant
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 weather
during the sprouting and coming up
If 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 weel
or ten days hence.