The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-03-10
DEVELOPING CORN.
An iewa Mans IDEAS About Some
Practices of Western Farmers.

An iewa Mans Ideas About Some
Practices Of Western Farmers.
Corn il not natural product Of the
northern states, for which reason an
Iowa correspondent Of Orange Judd
Farmer urges the necessity of using
every means for shortening the period
Of growth and maturity. He says: The
last ten years have marked great prog
yess In this respect. Farmers make the
mistake Of selecting seed from localities
south rather than breeding up from va
xieties that are already acclimated. The
result is much soft and imperfect corn.
The best varieties have been developed
By selecting desirable small kinds and
crossing them with larger ones From
this cross kinds of corn have been Sc
cured which are large enough and are
perfectly safe for any ordinary season.
AZ this has been progressing the period
Of maturity has also been shortened.
Although much good work has been
done, there Is enough room for improve
ment and there is small excuse for any
farmer in the corn belt to produce less
than 40 bushels of good, sound corn per
Acre during an ordinary season. Farm
ers can do much in this direction them
selves, but 1t is usually left for Seeds
men. Before becoming proficient in this
most of our western farmers have sew.
sral things to learn. They must learn
TO take better care of their land, must
quit pasturing their stalkfelds In
muddy weather, quit blowing lands
when wet, quit oultivating corn when
water will run in the furrow behind the
cultivator. They must learn to practice
q proper rotation, learn to know that
three crops of corn in five year rota-
uon pay better than five in regular
succession on the same land. They must
learn that the great secret Of success in
producing the best crops at lowest cost
lies in the fact that the soil must be
given thorough preparation before the
crops are planted, must learn when to
use the barrow before and after plant
Ing. that the seed has great influence
on the crop, and that careful selection
Of ears in the fall will do much to i'm
prove the quality of next year 8 crop.
A case in point may be Of value. BY
CdreIul BeleCGlOn L nave u6V6lOp6u u
fine 90 day corn. This year l prepared
carefully five acre field and planted
&c with this corn. In order to keep this
from mixing furnished the same kind
of seed to my neighbors whose corn
fields surrounded this. / gave the corn
good cultivation. June was very wet
month, and all could do was to har-
row it. My neighbors failed to accom-
plish this, and their fields grew up
with weeds. July was dry, and ! got
into the field with cultivator before it
became very foul.
/ have 60 bushels per acre Of very
fine corn. The crops on surrounding
fields yielded from 90 to 80 bushels of
corn. The land of each Of my neighbors
was in better condition to begin with
than mine. The only advantage was the
free use of the harrow before and after
planting and the use of the very best
seed. / practice shallow cultivation,
doing all my deep blowing before plant
ing. These advantages. with the fact
that ! was able to keep off my land
while it was wet, gave me my superior
results. In using harrow one must
use good Judgment.