Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-04-06
Garden, Farm andFiG|d.
BY JOHN ]. GILL.
Corn.

Corn is among our most import
ant crops and supports both man
and beast. Without it the whole
system of American agriculture
would have to be changed. Even
the cotton growing states could not
get along without it. When Missouri
was populated its settlers brought
with them plows, harrows, hoes and
rakes. The plows were of two
sorts-bar- shares and bull-tongues.
These constituted their agricultural
implements and with them they
opened and cultivated the land for
many years. For the breaking up
of the natural sod of both timber
and prairie the bar-share was the
better instrument. For the tillage
of corn the bull-tongue was its SUI
perior. The bar-share could do but
two things-it could throw soil
away from the corn and throw it
back again, creating high ridges
with burrows between them, afford
ing access of air and sunshine to
evaporate the moisture of the ridges
in drought and channels for rain
when it fell to carry them away.
The bull-tongue did better. 1t re-
moved grass and weeds as well as
the bar-share and left the land both
level and loose and in finer condition
for conserving moisture and absorb
ing water as it fell from the clouds.
The bar-share is still in use and is a
better instrument than ever in its
improved construction for breaking
up soils and preparing them for til
age. 1t is made of every size from
the simple diamond to the elaborate
riding pillow. The b~ull-tongue is al
most forgotten, but it has been re-
placed by the cultivator, which, in
one of its forms,is a multiplied bull
tongue with shovels so arranged that
the spaces between corn can be
thoroughly stirred at any desired
depth and their surfaces kept level.
These cultivators, with the spring
and disc, are in general use and in
valuable not only on account of their
good work but also for the large
amount of it accomplished in short
time. In former days in breaking
up the harrow followed the pillow be-
fore the clods were dried and har-
dened, but now the roller follows the
harrow and puts soil in still better
order for machine planting. All this
progress is in the right direction
and level tlllage is no longer an ex-
pertinent. Should farmers yield to
the suggestion of scientists corn til
lage will hereafter be shallow as well
as level. In behalf of this newly
proposed manner of filling it is ar
gued that it will more effectually de-
stroy weeds, preserve tender roots
from injury, enable them to pene-
trate further into the soils and pro-
mote plant-growth by conserving a
higher temperature in lands, check
ing evaporation and enabling soils
to retain moisture for use in
droughts. Again, deep tillage is
said to destroy more corn than weeds
by cutting away roots that furnish
plant food for maturing crops and
also by bringing deep-lying seed to
the surface. AS the writer has had
no experience with shallow tillage
he refrains from expressing an
opinion concerning it except to say
that it may possibly be best in thin
soil. 1t will undoubtedly be given
trial and if it Is what it claims to be
1t will be extensively and perhaps
universally adopted. But whatever
system of tending is practiced it is
of the utmost Importance to have
reliable seed for planting. When
seed corn is brought from a distance
it is liable to be effected by change
OF soil and climate and is on that
account often the source of great
disappointment. 1t will therefore
be generally best to select from that
which is aeclimated. A farmer
ought to plant both early and late
corn. He can never forecast what
the season will be and if the late
fails to make a stand the early varie-
ty is invaluable for replanting. Be-
sides, it is often desirable to have
some early corn in the fall for hogs
and other stock. Hickory King,
Grant Normandy and st. Charles
are good late and Champion Pearl
good early white variety. Ches-
ter County Mammoth is a good
late and Early Leaning and Pride
of the North are good early yellow
varieties. Adams Early, Bonanza,
Stowel's Evergreen and Mammoth
pre- good varieties of sweet corn,
maturing in the order named.
THE PUMPKIN.
Like corn, the pumpkin is a valu-
able vegetable for both man and
beast. The two are most commonly
grown together al pumpkins require
too much room for either garden or
truck patch. When raised among
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