Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-28
: i46:5.lltG74:5a51.Fl;:..AsRNMkz.
FlE.LLR.A'Np CRRpEN
g. = SSso,. s..scz,-zs - c-,-,s.,-.-
CULTIVATION OF CORN.

abor Saved and Yield Enlarged by che
System of shallow Culture.
The experiment stations have devel-
ped some points in regard to the Guilt
btiOn of corn which it may be well to
bnsider at this time One of the most
Important points is brought out by the
apartments in deep and shallow cul-
lre, or the use of the old large shovel
lows in comparison with the spring
both cultivators Of comparatively recent
Introduction. Observations on the growth
{ corn roots have shown that under or
mary conditions the roots spread their
beders in the surface soil chiefly, and
hat disturbance of these feeders weak
ns the plant and results in a decreased
ield of both corn and fodder. 1t was
nus found at the Illinois station that
bout 20 per cent Of the JOts would be
eached at the depth of four inches or
! bss at a distance Of six inches from the
talks. The theory formerly advanced
hat root pruning induces the plant to
trike deeper into the ground is fall
bciOus one, as has been demonstrated
1t several of the stations, as well as by
armers. This ought to settle the fate of
he large shovel deep running cultiva-
ors, and yet many of the cultivators
n use in the corn belt are Of this type.
writer who believes it is safe to esti-
hate that the yield Of corn will be in
creased 10 per cent by a change from
eep to shallow culture expresses him
elf as follows i'll Farm, Field and Fire
E ide:
But we cultivate for two reasons {:
First, to suppress weeds, and, second, to
Keep the surface soil loose. And one rea-
Jon why many farmers adhere to the
practice of deep culture lies in the fact
hat the large plows are more effective
IL covering up heavy growth of weeds
han the small ones, and change to
Shallow culture will therefore also mean
+ hat the corn must be cultivated before
he weeds get strong foothOld. But
ihis is just what ought to be done any
how, not merely as matter of princi-
E pie, but because of the greater economy
. bf time and labor.
No one disputes the fact that the time
10 kill weeds is when they are just
breaking through the surface, and at
this stage the work can be done more
rapidly, more efficiently and with less
effort on the part of both team and man
! han when the weeds are 1 inches high.
The forehanded farmer should be pre-
pared for this and start his plow early,
.even before there is any apparent need
. bf it. He will save money, and in the
E end it will require less labor to keep
the crop clean, and by shallow culture,
Say not to exceed two inches deep he
will make money by an increased yield
4 in the crop
In Kansas, where the rainfall is I'M
certain, the majority Of the farmers list
their corn, and in a dry season listed
corn frequently yields Il fair crop when
Surface planted corn is failure. The
roots Of listed corn are not so near the
surface, and they therefore do not feel
the drought SO severely. For this same
reason listed corn can be cultivated deep
4 er with impunity. But the lister cannot
be used to advantage everywhere, espe-
|cially where the rainfall is usually suffi-
Client to supply the needs of the crop.
Progressive farmers at the east prac-
tice largely planting corn in drills and
'cultivating it with riding cultivators
with teeth controlled by the feet. These
cultivate shallow, with the teeth run
ming so close to the corn ON either side
as to cover all weeds and grass. In
what is termed improved corn culture"
the drill system prevails, and the field
+ is gone over three times with the riding
.cultivatOr and as many times with the
Smoothing harrow. This does away with
| all hand labor, and one successful
farmer who practices it claims that the
whole cultivation does not cost over 81
per acre.