The Portland daily press., 1895-07-04
CULTIVATION OF CORN.
Labor Saved and Yield Enlarged by the
System of Shallow Culture.

System of Shallow Culture.
The experiment stations have devel-
oped some points in regard to the culti-
vation of corn which it may be we'll to
consider at this time. One of the most
important points is brought out by the
experiments in deep and shallow cul-
ture, or the use of the old large shovel
plows in comparison with the spring
tooth cultivators Of comparatively recent
introduction. Observations on the growth
of corn roots have shown that under Or
dinary conditions the roots spread their
feeders in the surface soil chiefly, and
that disturbance of these feeders weak
ems the plant and results in decreased
yield of both corn and fodder. It was
thus found at the Illlsois station that
about 70 per cent of the roots would be
reached at the depth of four inches or
less at distance of six inches from the
stalks The theory formerly advanced
that root pruning induces the plant to
strike deeper into the ground is fall
lacious Che, as has been demonstrated
at several of the stations, as well as by
farmers This ought to settle the fate of
the large shovel deep running cultiva-
tors, and yet many of the cultivators
III use in the corn belt are of this type
A writer who believes it is safe to esti-
mate that the yield Of corn will be in
creased 10 per cent by change from
deep to shallow culture expresses him
self as follows in Farm, Field and Fire
side:
But we cultivate for two reasons:
First, to suppress weeds, and, second, to
keep the surface soil loose. And one rea-
son why many farmers adhere to the
practice of deep culture lies in the fact
that the large plows are more effective
in covering up a heavy growth of weeds
than the small ones, and change to
shallow culture will therefore also mean
that the corn must be cultivated before
the weeds get a strong foothold. But
this is just what ought to be done any
how, not merely as matter of princi-
pie, but because Of the greater economy
Of time ami labor.
No one disputes the fact that the time
to kill weeds is when they are just
breaking through the surface, and at
this stage tile work can be done more
rapidly, more efficiently and with less
effort on the part Of both team and man
than when the weeds are 4 inches high.
The forehanded farmer should be pre-
pared for this and start his plow early,
even before there is any apparent need
nf If q xril1 +1,o
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 all increased yield
in the crop.
In Kansas, where the rainfall is un-
certain, the majority of the farmers list
their corn, and in dry season listed
corn frequently yields 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
er with impunity. But the lister cannot
be used to advantage everywhere, espe-
clally where the rainfall is usually suff-
cient 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
cultlvator 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 50
per acre.