The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-04-16
FARMER AND PLANTER
CORN CULTURE.
A Method that Won the Texas Farm and
Ranch Premium.

reader a clear and philosophic principle
in any mode of culture, is easily under
stood when we consider the fact that
every locality has some popularity OF
its own, both in soil and climatic influ-
ence, that can not be subjected to for
mula composing the whole. Every sea-
son brings its own rules, and it remains
for the sagaeity of the farmer to inter-
pref these conditions intelligently and
to provide methods of his own. Success
in agriculture as well as any other bust
ness depends principally upon the
amount of good, practical common-sense
brought to bear on the questions and
contingencies of the hour. Therefore,
| will endeavor only to point out some
of the most essential facts that | deem
necessary in all cases, and consistent
always with judicious system of farm
culture and economy.
AS this plan has in contemplation
more particularly the small farmer,
many of the expensive and labor-saving
devices that are now in use by large OPP
erations viii be discarded, and in writ
ing out detailed plan to be pursued in
the cultivation of corn crop it is nee
essary to carry the reader over the en-
tire time consumed from the prepara-
ton of the land to the final harvesting
of the crop.
We will begin operations about the
middle of December, if our land is not
rich, by hauling out on it all valuable
manure to be distributed broadcast
after the old method of manuring for
cotton Fifteen feet from the fence or
beginning select row for the dump
row-fifteen feet from the end of this
row make the first heap of ten bushels.
Thirty feet from the first, on the same
row make the second and so on,
this gives ten bushels of manure
to the surface of 900 square feet,
when scattered with the shovel If
land has been in cotton the year previ-
Gus run stalk-cutter tor log will do
to break down stalks) about the first of
January. Then plow as deep as your
pillow will turn the soil and log down
each half days breaking so that the
clods will not have time to harden and
to have smooth surface for the
marker.
A simple and inexpensive implement
for this purpose can be made by nail
ing three runners to the under side of a
nine-foot plank, upon which fasten d
tongue and double-tree; a seat can be
improvised out of box. This will
mark three three-foot rows by running
across plowed land. Use stakes so as
to get them straight.
The land is now ready, and should be
planted as early as practicable. The
| first of March is about right in this lati
tude. I prefer corn dropped by hand IL
check 3x3 feet, two or three grains tx
the hill. Then thin out according to the
strength of the land. Open a furrov
with a bull-tongue about the middle o.
the piece designed for corn and at righr
angles to the marks. On either half be
! gin planting in four-foot rows, being
careful to drop exactly in the checks
cover with expanding cultivator; talk,
| off the two front harrow teeth and tt
the two rear teeth fasten a board, as il
used to cover cotton, triangular plac,
being taken out of the center, abou
| five inches at its base. This viii leav,
the soil in fine filth near the furrov
and a slight ridge about the seed. Whe1
the plants appear FIVE or six inches
above the ground run around will
double shovel in the four-foot rows, MS
ing long, narrow shovel on the RICH
| foot; pillow close up to the drill so as t,
lap the dirt and cover up the fine grass
Much care is necessary to do this effect
ually, and not injure or cover up tn
corn. The next working should follow
Immediately. This time use the ex
panding cultivator in the three-foo
rows adjusted so as to cultivate clos
to the entire row at one through
This pillow can be used to advantag
in a dry time with only the harroy
teeth, to freshen up the soil by runnin
in every other row, and a few day
afterward in the same way work on
the alternate. Now break out the mic
dleSin the four-foot rows with doubl
shovel. This, in my estimation,
equivalent to three plowings. The las
blowing should be given at the buncf
ing stage, i. e., just before the tassel
appear. This time use turning shove
on the right and an ordinary one ON til
left foot on the double-shovel stool
throw the dirt up over the roots of tn
corn and break out middles with sam
pillow. Now our crop is laid by, and
the work has been properly done, gra:
nor weeds w i'll do no harm hereafter.
Gather your crop early in Septembe
pull down and throw in piles in til
afternoon and haul to the crib ne2
morning. In preventing the destru
ton of corn by wevil, / have found n
plan as good as gathering early. Let
lie one night on the ground; then pl
in crib prepared with two feet of ha
or fodder in the bottom, and as til
corn is thrown il build up around IL
sides with same material so as to G,
clude the air as much as possible
When the entire crop is in, cover cor
with as much hay or fodder as will 9
in between it and the roof.
The land best adapted to corn is ric
deep loan Astounding in soluble silic
! Such lands, with plenty of rain. can I