The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-11

Gu FSiS suSceoIlOle % injury from the
weevll-obiections that do not amount to
anything when the corn is grown TO be used
IN green state. 1t is not the very smallest
corns, however, that should be planted IN
our latitude for table purposes, bus these
varieties OF medium growth. like the early
Adams, TuscarOra and the like, are to be
selected. As remarked in previous num-
Der, these two, wi b the Bouns prolific, a
field corn proper, but has small stalk and
natures quite early, are three kinds that
are likely TO give the best satisiac tion for
marketing green in the south.
=.
10 what extent given quantity of fer
tlllZer will increase the crop depends. of
course, upon the natural fertility of the
soil, and it should not be lost sight of that a
thousand pounds Of firss-class fertilizer an
piled to barren soil Is not likely to pro-
duce as good a crop as one-fourth that
quantity would on a soil fairly fertile, for
the action of manure the first year is very
uncertain, depending so entirely, as it must
necessarily do, on the condition OF the
weather for whatever good it might do. On
SOIL that IS not fertile it matters not whether
5000 stalks or l0,00O stalks are planted on
1t, IN each case the result would be failure
but where soil is rich enough in plant food
to grow lO,OD stalks to perfection it is poor
economy TO give it only 5000. 1t is a nice
policy, we believe, to use, to the
fullest exte t possible, year by year.
the soluble plant food that has accumulated
in the soil. By the following year much of
that not used may revert to an insoluble
form, and not be available again in wear
or two perhaps. Atmospheric condition
are more faV orable some years than others
TO the generating OF the essential elements
of food into soluble forms Of nitrogen,
phosphorlc acid, potash, magnesia, etc.
80 FAR as we can we should use all available
matter afforded, at the same time doing all
we can to further the rene wed process & at
unlocks the mineral storehouse heretofore
undrswn upon. I'VE do this by restoring
what vegetable matter we can, by planting
crops occasionally that give dense shade to
the soil, by application of salt or gypsum
or lime from time to time)
On soil fairly rich-such for instance as
would produce without the aid of applied
fertilizer 200 pounds of lint cotton per acre
we can, with average seasons, good Gull
tIvatlon and reasonable quantity of fer
tllizer produce from 800 to 1000 dozen of
roasting ears per acre, barring such acct
dents as are liable to happen to any Guilt
waited crop. No crop that we grow is GER
tain.
In preparing the soil for such crop oper-
ations should begin in December or early in
January, when the land should be listed so
as to get the beneficial effect of frost on the
soil. The land should be gone over with a
shovel running burrows as close together as
possible without filling those previously
made. Leaving the soil thus, and until about
month before planting time, when the
fertilizer should be broadcasted over the
turrowed land and the land thoroughly
plowed across the rows When planting
time arrives it is well to give the soil a
thorough narrowing; then with a long mar
row scooter lay off rows three feet apart
ard drive the seed along allow
ing perfect grain about
every six inches Cover with a double
footed pillow, using narrow bull tongues.
This done, run the roller along the corn
rows aud the operation of planting is &C
complished. Ia laying off the seed burrows
use as narrow point as possible, that
throws out but little soil. Covered aad
rolled as directed the seed will be placed
just at the proper depth.
saTwo weeks after the corn Is uD, thin to a
stand, leaving stalk of Blouut or Tusca-
rora every eighteen inches; of Early Adams
twelve inches. As soon as thinned begin
the cultivation with harrow, and with this
implement and the sweep stir between the
rows once week for six weeks. fixing the
harrow sweep SO that it will cover the
whole mid lie.
The above is a statement of the plan that
we have observed with satisfactory results.
OF course it admits of a variation or two.
If the soil is stiff at all the middles should
receive good breaking with plow about
the time the corn is foot high, but ordi-
narily the sweep and harrow or cultivator
will do all the cultivation necessary. I'm
derStand, the soil is in fine order at planting
time. Two, perhaps three, hoings may be
necessary.
On rich level soil we have followed the
plan of checking 3x2 feet, and leaving
either one or two stalks, according to the
~ cNFl I'D
was cultivated first one way and then the
other, with very little resort to the hoe, and
usually never rvnnlng more than On5 time
to the row at each cultivation. This is I'M
questionably intensive culture, and the
market gardener will find that it pays him
to take more pains and make large crops
On the dairy farm the forage resulting
from an acre on this plan will be found to
be worth the expenses Of the crOp-the
stalks being cut and fed Tor cured as soon
as the green corn is gathered.
#.#
Nearly a score of years ago we were led
into making experiments in respect to
crowding with the different varieties Of
corn and some 9th n vegetables from an ex-
penence with fodder" corn. Planting sew
eral varieties Of early and late corns we
allowed various numbers of stalks to the
hill, from two or three up to twenty-five
The corn was planted in checks 215x2% and
3x3 feet, and was cultivated with the plow-
sweep aud harrow, dispensing with hoeing
altogether. The land was only of medium
fertility. In this instance, for the
first time, we concluded to allow
the corn to attain its full growth
before being cut The seasons were
favorable, and the result was certainly sur
prising. In some cases from single hills
alone enough roasting ears was secured to
provide meal for a good sized family, and
quite a number of roasting ears were
obtained from hills where there were twelve
to fifteen stalks growing in the hill. The
ears were not large to be sure, but did very
well for cooking-when dead ripe were
nothing but "nubbins" 1t was a very in
! teresting and suggestive lesson, and led
very promptly to the practice CT growing
two to three times the number of stalks
than had been previously. used in growing
garden corn. 1t was not long before the
conclusion was reached that it was merely
a question of variety, use of suitable min
eral fertilizer and good cultivation, whether
800 dozen or 500 dozen ears might be OBJ
tanned from an acre.
Decline of Vitality of Fruit Trees.
Diseases and premature decay of fruit
! trees of almost every kind are fast becoming
| a matter of very serious import, says the
| Rural Home. This is mainly to be at