The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-10
OF CORN
Facts and Figures Touching the
Production Of This Staple.
Judge Martindale Says the Crop Should
Be Made More Profitable and Tells
How 1t May Be Done.

The experience Of Hon. Z. B. Martindale
in draining a Greene county marsh and
Transforming it into rich corn lana, as re-
Gently related in the Journal. has created
an interest in Mr.. MartGdale's methods OF
corn raising. which have proved so sue
cessful. He has responded to the call for
details by outlining his views on corn
raising in general and his own process in
particular as set forth below:
The farm being thoroughly drained. the
question to be considered is what can be
produced on it with the best results and
the greatest profit on the investment and
the labor bestowed. The average Western
farmer does not fully appreciate the i'm
portance Of preparing his land for the use
Of the most improved farm implements,
nor does he appreciate the Importance Of
properly caring for such machinery and
Keeping it in condition for profitable use.
The waste OF money in allowing imple-
ments to remain in the field or in the barn
yard unprotected from the weather, is not
the only loss sustained. The loss OF time
by the failure of the implements to perform
by reason Of rust and decay is large. If
we could get the exact figures and give the
loss sustained by the farmers of this coun-
Try by this habit OF neglectinS the proper
care of implements IL would amount to a
AiSuIlully large per cent. on lHe FARMER >
profits. How long would q manufactures
be able to conduct a successful business If
be did not adopt the latest improved ma
chinery and keep ii i'm perfect condition for
use! The advancement made In invention
and development in farm implements is
the wonder of the age, and the farmer
who depends upon the old implements and
the old methods Of cultivation is no more
likely TO succeed than would the wood
working manufacturer who insists on ig-
norinS the new woodworking machinery.
There Is another lesson that we farmers
may proftably take from the successful
manufactures, and that is to confine their
EFFORTS to one line of production as far as
possible. Get in the best road and then
Keep in the middle of it. The farmer who
owns corn land and will confine his eff
forts TO the best methods of growing corn
ana raising and marketing hogs should not
vocation In this country. He can afford TO
endure the epithet of 'hog and hominy."
The production of corn in the United
States is confined mainly to what we call
the corn belt" This belt is bounded by
the Allegheny mountains on the east, by
the lakes and the north lines Of Illinois,
iowa and Nebraska on the north, by the
east lines of the States OF Nebraska and
of the State of Tennessee and the ex-
tension of that parallel line through the
state or Arkansas and the Indian Terri
tory on the south. Outside of these
boundary lines corn is produced in a limit
ed way, but not with profit. This belt
within which corn may be raised with prof
IL must, on account OF climate, always re-
main limited, and the world must look 10
as its supply Of hogs 4 have prepared
from the United States census report, and
from the report OF the Secretary of Agri-
culture the following table, showing the
thirteen years, beginning with 1880 and end
ing with 1892: