The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-13

red clay subsoils are better for corn
than the gray soils with yellow clay
subsoils But it is advisable, especially
on uplands, to adopt a system of rota-
tIon and therefore it is not often prec
tIcaole to locate the entire crop on
particular character of soil. AS rule,
corn should follow cotton in the rota-
tion.
Preparation. = Thorough breaking
with two horse turn, plow, gradually
increasing the depth every year. Eight
inches deep is considered good blowing
Ii there is much grass, weeds and other
lltser on the surface it is advisable to
plow under in Oetober or November.
If the land is clean las cotton stubble)
plowing may be deferred until anuary
and February. After ploWing, the
surface should be well narrowed, and
repeated at intervals until the surface
is dne and smooth. .. .a. -.
subsoiling. Repeated experiments
in subsoiling the soils of the Station
Farm indicate that the results in in,
crease of the yield do not pay for the
increased expense of the operation.
Distance.-On uplands capable of
producing, of a good year, 25 to 10
bushels of shelled corn per acre, and
when planting ordinary field varieties
| common in the South, there should be
about $3.50 plants to the acre. This
number would be secured by planting
in rows Al feet wide and spacing the
plants 80 inches apart; or feet by 36
inches; or 81 feet By 81 feet.
If the soil is of a capacity to produce
from Is to 25 bushels greater distance
should be given, say Is square feet to
the plant, or 2, 722 plants to the acre.
This number would be secured by
spacing the rows and hills feet by 389
lhches; or IL feet by 32irches; or feet
| By 4 feet. ----.-.------ 1@'-'s
Ca soils of still, less capacity, say
fg~ a. 10 to 15 bushels per acre, the dis
tance should be still greater, say Is to
"a tqqare feet to the stalk, or from
2. 42O 20 1 8l5 hills to the acre. Eighteen
square feet to the stalk would be
/ occurred by spacing 6 feet by 36 inches;
or feet By 43 inches; or 4 feet inches
by feet inches. A soil that would
produce less than 10 bushels per acre,
with good seasons and very light ma
nuring, is not FL to plant in corn.
Spacing For the largest yields the
plants should be as nearly ION a
square" as c3nven:e Mt. Corn planted
AKA will yield more than if the same
soil be planted feet By 38 inches
the number Of plants per acre being the
same in each case. But the narrower
the rows the greater will be the cost of
cultivation. Hence, on more produc
tive uplands> the rows should not be
closer than 4 feet, or thereabouts. .
Fancy Planting. Double rows and
other similar plans of spacing the plants
must be consi dered as fancitul, and Of
no advantage, but resulting in loss of
yield.
Varieties As rule, it is advisable
to secure seed corn every few years
from higher altitude and latitude, not
further north than latitude. 36 or 38
Seed corn from North and Middle
Georgia, Middle and Eass Tennessee,
Southwestern Virginia, Western North
Carolina and Northern South Cb rolina
have given best results as a rule.
Seed from Different Parts of the Ear.
Selections from the small end, re.
jecting the very ''tip" have usually
given as good results as grains from
the middle or from the butts. ......,
...., FERTILIZING ...fs.r:.f..@
Corn requires highly nitrogenous
fertil z3r. The average 'tguanos" sold
in the market do not contain enough
nitrogen for corn on old uplands. The
best proportions of the three elements
for the soils is available phosphoric
acid, 10 per cent potash, 3 per cent.
nitrogen, per cent. "s. p. @..
II is better for the farmer to buy the
ingredients and do his own mixing.
The folio wing is a good formula for
corn: .... ..4- ....H t... .-...
Acid phosphate, GA per cent.
av8ilable) ...........-.....1 l OOO Ib3.
Muriate of potash. .,........ 30 "
Cotton meal. ................ ], $50 "
.r- ...a.. a 2a8o