The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-19
TIME FOR PLANTING CORN.

rs Tie DeSlulllllS vi liiC Pi'ieiiiS ~"
son, although, in our sunny South, We
may and do plant some truck and gar
den crops, and even corn, in February.
1t has been the fashion with some agri-
cultural writers to advocate very early
planting of everything. Experience
ii. G., the resultant of experiments) is
always the safest guide in every prac-
tical business, and especially in farm
operations. The history of the past
when compared with the present, in
regard to the planting of corn, does
not show that we now plant any ear
lier, rs rule than we did many years
ago. Circumstances, climatic condi-
tions, and experience as to results,
have comspired together to determine
when to plant. 1t is very safe rule
"uot to plant Until ready to plant"
TO ''streak oif7' a field of unplOwed
land, drop the corn and cover it, eX-
pecting to break the bulk at the first
blowing is to run the risk of failure,
if the rains be withheld and the ground
becomes dry and hard in April and
May. Thorough preparation of the
soil before planting is generally "hali
the BATTLE"
Assuming that the lard is in proper
state of preparation, the best time to
plant is when the ground is not too
wet to plow well, and the period has
arrived which past experience has
shown to give best results in the long
run. The temperature Of the air, as
shown by the thermometer, or by. ones
sense of feeling, is simply no guide at
all, because early planted corn requires
from ten day to fourteen days to
"come up,n even under favorable coll
ditions as to temperature, and in that
time there may occur every VIclssltuue
of cold and hot, wet and dry. 1t is
better to have day, warm weather for
the seed to come up, than the same
conditions ut the time of dropping,
followed by the reYerse of wet and
cold. Therefore, plant according to
the day of the month, and when the
ground is not too wet to stir. We
have several times planted corn, with
out hesitation, and with entirely salts
factory results, when the ground was
frozen at sunrise.
One of the most important points is
proper distance. There is always q
disposition to increase the number of
plants, on the assumption that increase
of plants-if the seasons be favorable
will necessarily yield u greater return
Of product.
The very best practical farmers give
good distance. The lamented, David
Dickson, of Hancock county, Ga, used
to plant his entire cr0p of corn in rows
seven feet wide, and the plants-one
in placc-three and Il half feet apart
and he was not content with yield OF
less than twenty-five bushels per acre.
On ordinary uplau $, in Middle Geor-
gia and corresponding sections, twen-
~ to twenty-five square feet TO each
stalk of ordinary field corn is not too
much. Our own practice in this re-
spect lin Southwest Georgia) was to
plant in hills Qand being level Gx4
feet, one stalk in Il place. This dis
tapce gives 1915 hills to the acre; al
lowing one hundred hills to the bush
ell, would result in a yield of 1915 bush
ell, which is far above the average yield
of the section indicated. OF course on
rich, moist lands, and with a smaller
variety of corn, the distance may be
much less. But on such lands we be-
lieve the tendency to crown the plants
beyond the capacity of the sol; is great
er, relatively, than OIL ordinary, thin
uplands. The careful selection of seed
corn-in the field-as we have often
insisted, is an important factor in de-
termining the result. We want every
stalk to be from a grain that was the
product of a well developed stalk that
bore two good sized, perfect ears, OF
corn. The only perfect way to select
seed corn is to select it from the stalk:
while standing in the field. Selection
now, can refer only to size of ear, color
depth and soundness of grain.
1t is a good idea to soak seek corn il
water tWenty-four hours before plant
ing, especially if a little belated il
planting. If birds are likely to be baC
soak in cold water twelve hours, a
least; then pour off the cold water ant
pour in enough boiling to cover th'
grain, with half pint Of common ia
to each bushel Of seed corn. Sti
briskly for a few minutes, or until ev
cry grain is thinly coated with the tar
then pour off the water and stir in dry
sifted ashes, or plaster, to prevent tn
grains sticking together. This is the
best preventive of birds pulling W
corn that can be applied at the time o
planting. 1t is best to drop grains o.
corn where one stalk is to be left tt
grow, unless seed is choice and scarce
We have more then once secured 6
good stand by dropping only one grain
but the seed had been selected in the
field, selected after shucking, and Sc
lected after shelling, handful after
handful.
We believe in planting everything
that is to be planted in the early spring
on beds more or less elevated, with g
deep, open water furrow between the
rows. Planting in the water furroW
will oftener fail than succeed, especial.
ly on poor, clay soils.
1t is very desirable to have the seed
surrounded and covered by mellow
rich soil, within easy reach OF the
young rootlets at the very start
This is better accomplished by throw.
ing the better top soil together in list
or bed, than in turning it off towards
the middles and leaving the seed tc
germinate in the cold, poorer subsoi ]
Moreover the water furrow, as its name
implies, is the drain to carry off tho
surplus water from our usually heavy
spring rains.
FERTILIzING CORN.
1t is yet an unsettled question
whether corn requires the application
of nitrogenous fertilizer. The results
of carefully conducted experiments at
several experiment stations seem to
indicate that this plant has the power