Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-14
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
A SHORT PRIZE PAPER ON RAILS
ING CORN.
important Suggestions by q Practical
characterization in the Quality
of FruIt-Profits In Cab
bage Culture.
Corn Culture.

Some time ago the Practical Farmer
Of Philadelphia offered a prize for the
best article on corn culture. Mr.. Geo.
I. Petit, of Oneida, Kansas contrib
uted the best article and won the prize.
Mr. Petit says:
In heavy clay land, in a moist eli
mate, late fall and winter blowing OF
sod is advantageous. Ifwell done, the
| burrows act as drains to keep water
from standing on the surface, and We
get the disintegrating action of frost,
which also destroys insect enemies.
Fall-plowed stubble ground is more in
clined to pack, hence is not so desira-
bic. Fall pillow light prairie land
early, that the rains may settle the
soil, and that vegetation turned under
may decOmpose before winter, as any
coarse material in the soil intcnsilies
the effects of drouth. Spring pillow.
not too deep, when the ground is dry
enough, not before.
HarrO1O thoroughly. Plant reason
ably early, the soil being sufficiently
warm to insure termination. Light
soil and dry climate require deeper
planting than heavier soil and moist
climate. Varieties that are acclimated,
and require nearly all the corn N
in which to mature are. as a ru|... &c
most profitable. A bushel of seed
should plant from seven to eight acres.
according TO size Of kernels and fertil-
ity of soil. Rich laaI VII bear thicker
seeding than poor land. When drilled.
the ears grow larger and more uniform
than when chccked-rowed, especially
in a dry season, thus increasing the
yield. BY check-rowing. wcedy land
can be kept clean with less difficulty
and less ridging; hence it Is better in
some cases TO do this.
Cultivation should begin early. The
smoothing harrow can often be used
to advantage. The plants may appear
to suffer. but if the soil has been well
prepared, go ahead; they will come up
smiling in a day or two. If the soil
needs loOsening up, put on bull tongues
and pillow deep, first time through.
then frequent shallow cultivations to
keep surface clean and mellow. and
avoid root pruning. For this. the
spring tooth and eagle claw attach
ments are becoming popular, as with
the ordinary large shovels it Is 'cut
and cover" operation. There is sell
dom any gain in blowing corn when
too large to use the two-hOrse cult
vatOr.
Cutting should be deferred until the
grain is well hardened. unless killing
frOsts occur Fodder sometimes molds
and turns black. as a result of too
early cutting followed by warm, wet
weather. Some OF our farmers dispose
of their shock corn by running it
through threshing machine. This
shells and cleans the grain and pull
verizes the fodder, which should be
run directly into the NOW, or in feed
rack.
Glover and barn-yard manure are
the cheapest and best fertilizers for
corn. In the more eastern states |
would consider a cloversod fall plowed,
with a good coat of well rotted manure
narrowed in before planting,
one of the very best chances for corn.
But on light prairie land | would grow
a crop of wheat the first season. fall
pillow after harvest and list the follow
ing spring for corn.
In many sections of the west where
the soil is deep. light, friable and we'll
and where corn follows corn
for years continuously, the common
method of planting is by listing"
The lister is a double moldboard pillow,
drawn by three horses. Without pre-
vious blowing it opens for each row a
dead furrOw or trench, making CORE
spending ridges between them. A sub
soiler is attached in the rear, which
loosens up a seed-bed in the bottom of
the furrow in which the seed is drilled.
This method saves labor; the crop
stands drouth better; stands up better;
yields better and is easier kept clean
than top-planted corn.