Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-03-29
CORN CULTURE ALONG THE AR.
KANSAS.

From Bulletin No. 70 OF the state hortlcul-
turnl College, We make the following extract
on corn culture In the Arkansas Valley by
Superintendent Huntley OF the Rocky Ford
Experiment Station:
Corn Is one Of the principal farm crops In
the valley, and Id no 0t1ier section Of Colo
RADIO are natural conditions found as favorable
to its production. Experiments and obserya-
tlons have shbwt the average yield to be very
much below the possibilities, and there Is
general demand for better methods and more
thorough tillage. The preparation OF the soil
before planting has, no doubt, more to do
with the outcome Of the crop than any other
operation. 1t should be borne In mind that
our subsoil though sandy, has a most COM
pact structure. Corn roots have the habit OF
growing downward as we'll Ms branching.
They nre deep and broad feeders, in conse-
uuencc Of which the soil must be made loose
and mellow to n considerable depth to secure
full development. Land for corn should be
plowed to an average depth OF ten inches or
inore for this and another very important
reason. Those familiar with the conditions
Of irrigation know with what rapidlty CON-
pact soil loses moisture. A weli-tilled, por-
Gus soil collects and retaihs fn6isture by
natural law knoan as capillary attraction.
Compact soilt Nave that power To only very
limited extent. A comparative test OF deep
and shallow plowing was illustrated here In
the case OF field OF Colorado White field
corn. A portion OF the field was plowcd TO
IN average depth Of four and fve inches,
while an adjacent portion received double
the depth of cultivation. The whole planting
received uniformly the same culture, includ-
Ing Irrigation. a comparison OF the yields
In measurement upon deep and shallow plow-
ing showed little over 30 per cent. gain on
the greater depth Of pluwing with grain Of
superior quality.
Lund should alw ays be we'll irrigated before
plowing II not sufficiently moist to leave the
work In the best possible condition for after
cultivation. Fall plowirg, ms compared win
that done In the spring, has the advantage OF
exposing the greatest possible amount OF fur-
face TO the action Of prolonged weather
changes, which greatly facilitate tho break
ing up and putting into available form the
fertilizing properties of the soil for the food
| OF plants. II done thoroughly II al,o aids In
retaining moisture which comes from natural
causes. As irrigation restores the soil TO Its
former cotnpactncss, It should never be done
upon soils freshly powed and prepared for
planting, unless REQUIRED to gefminate the
seed. There are advantages Claimed for
spring powing. 1t enables the farmer to
control moisture In making the operations OF
irrigating, blowing and planting continuous.
irrgating to gcrminate seed after planting
should never be pract!ced, since much OF the
seed becomes ruined, and feeble growth takes
pIucc, which can seldom II ever be overcome
by cultivation.
1t Is my opinion that an improvement In
planters Is desirable to meet our conditions OF
| soil The ordinary style Of two-horse planter
with wide wheels, such as is used in the soft
soils Of other states, does not seem to be just
what 10 wanted here. Wheels for our use
should be made with narrower tires, similar
to those Of press sced-drills, tor making the
ma Nr,,t Ma n rftr N
greater depth than Is done In moister ell
, mates, wide tires do not accomplish the de-
sired purpose Of making the soil compact
| over the Seed.
| the growth OF u crop, aud often one irriga-
| ton Is preferable. II soil contains sufficient
| moisture In the spring to start the crop to n
thrifty growing condition, md growth seems
not 10 be retarded for the want OF moisture,
watering can be delayed until the tassels be.
| gin to appear at which time drouth would
cause great injury to the crop. The harrow
is the best cultlvator for corn until IL has at
taincd an average height Of at least six inch
es. Continuous surface cultivation saves
moisture, and cross ploughing with two
horse cultivator, worked In both directions, Is
| the least that should be done.
The mistake Is often made In the use OF Il
large head Of water while rrigating. and In
attempting to get II properly distributed over
large areas and through long rows. Much OF
! the lind thus watered becomes too wet, while
| the other portions receive an insufficient sup
ply. In neither ease the best results can not
| be expected Another very serious objection
| to irrigating with n very large head OF water
| Is, that the water contains much nso.uble
earthly matter which 10 ever being deposited
| as sediment. Waterways become coated and
moisture falls to penetrate to the roots OF
plants along their course. To irrigate prop
crly, burrows must be we'll made and as near
ly free OF distractions As careful methods
Will permit. The slope Of the land Will de-
termlne the distance 1t Is practicable to run
water for uniform results. No greater guam
tlty should be turned into each furrow than
will flow with uniform rate. seepage is slow
at best, and 1t usually takes many hours to
secure the proper amount Of moisture to the
soil to prove Of lasting benefit. Some may
disagree with the statement that seepage IL
more effcctuul and rapid from small head
of water than from heavy flow. The resson
is that water from the Arkansas river Is
nearly always thick with earthly matter, and
the amount OF deposit decreases with the vol
ume. We have tested this thoroughly In the
garden ns well as In the field. 1t has been
found advisable, while irrlgating, to expose
the smallest amount of surface possible to the
flow of water, and thus protect the porous
condition of the soil. Another expen-
sive practice is that OF allowing great
amount of overflow or waste water To leave
the fields aud return To the river or lower
bitches. Much fertility necesta tarily goes with
1t and is forever lost.