The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-06-26
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Corn Culture.


Corn is essentially surface-reoted
plant, and is more liable to injury from
too deep blowing than cotton and other
cultivated plants. In its early stages
it may be plowed close and deep, cut
ting and tearing away most OF the
roots that extend towards the mlddles
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 a still fur
Their advanced stage of growth-up to
knee high-deep cultivation, though
cutting the roots more or less, may be
iustifable. The conditions, however,
that will justify deep blowing at such
stage of the crop. are generally the
result of neglect or improper
management the ground is so
! infested with weeds of such size and
F.; strength, or has been left unbroken at
all, that the barrow, sweep or cultlva-
tor will not do effective work. The
stage soon arrives when the remedy
is as bad as the diseases" when to
pillow, or turn out" is the question.
We utterly scout the idea recently ad-
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 cul-
tivator tnenceforward. a safe rule Is
to use the pillow or implement, what
ever it's name or constitution, that Will
thoroughly stir the surface and go
over the greatest area in day. A
broadcast harrow can be used until the
corn is ten inches high; then an ex
banding cultivator, or cultivating har
row is in order.
We are aware that these Thoughts
are not new, and possibly we may b'
/ wearying the patience of some OF ou
> readers in ''revamping' them for thu
. occasion. Our plea is that OF all trade
, or professions that of farming mos
needs the cline upon line, precept up
. on precept'' style of writing.
The cost of bushel of corn or
pound of cotton is directly and largel,
dependent on the number Of furrow
q laid in each row cultivated-the mum
d Der of times man and horse travel
o the length of each row. We can nc
y afford to apply to an acre OF land a
d amount of labor equal to the value
e the crop, as is annually done on thoo
r sands of acres in the South. A farme
can not afford to hire and maintain
Il stout negro man and strong mule
manipulate q pillow that would nj
S over-tax twelve-year-old boy and
l. yearling calf.
is In many parts of the South the COZ
]. crop will be ready to clay by" fro
T. the middle to the last of the mont
le Let the last working be thorough b
W shallow. All things considered, Il
T. best time to SOW peas in corn is at tt
,e last blowing. They shade the grou'
IS more effectually and yield mu
larger crop of roots and vines, a
of often as much or even more peas. 0
ok bushel of seed peas to each acre
he usually recommended, but we won
is be governed by the quantity OF Sc
to available. Better SOW one-half bush
ad or even less, per acre, and SOW t
on whole crop, than to SOW thicker a
rs, cover a less area. We believe CT
tut of peas sown broadcast in corn, wi
on under ordinary conditions, pay all
of expenses of the corn crop, COUNT
the benefit to the land as we'll as
al, value of peas or vines gathered
oh forage. Cultivator.