The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-23

GWll1TDWATD[NG GDiR1Na

To the Editor: Indian Corn is more
distinctly the American crop than amy
other product Of our soil 1t is grown over
larger areas, more generally distribute d
and yields Il larger aggregate money
return than any ether crop OfAthe Wes
tern World. and has therefore we'll Won
the claim of being our king of crops.
1t would therefore seem that a mat
ter apparently 50 simple as the cultivation
Of corn would require no special skill
for its successful culture.
y little Investigation. however. will
show that whore actual achievement is
compared with recognized possibility. no
crop IS really grown With 50 little sue
cess. The late census returns show that
there are States in which the acreage
and CONSUMPTION Of corn warrant the
arrelation Of corn States yet they
produce an average of less than ten
bushels per acre, while the highest re-
turns for any State is thirty-one bush
els per acre. Now, every practical farm
er knows that with proper attention to
business fifty bushels per acre is an
easily attained return on any fair sol.
No good and sufficient reason can be aS-
signed why said condition Mould exist.
Careful observation Of the methods ot
culture in use among the growers Of
corn in all parts of the country lead to
the conclusion, however. that errors OF
practice in the method Of planting and
cultivating ;he crop are. to a greater eX-
tent. res ionSilc for the results cited than
all other causes combined.
The first step necessary to be taken
for general improvement of the crop
is a thorough preparation of the ground.
The root system Of the plant furnishes
the key to the proper practice. Corn
though not Il true tap root feeder, IS es-
stntially 2 deep feeder. Prof Mapes Is
said 10 have traced corn roots to tn"
depth OF five feet, yet 4 very large pro-
Iortion Of the corn acrca Of the country Is
p,owcd and worked in 4 way that would
be suita bic only for q shallow surface
feeding corp. Success impeTltiycly re
'tuireS that the ground be thoroughly bro
ken. and if there be an inpervl0us sub
soil within ten inches Of the surface, 1
subsoiI p,cw or Il long narrow scooter
should be used not to turn the surface
II. but to break it and render it peryious
to water and roots. II" next error les
in the fact that on most. farms an insu!-
ficient number of stalks are grown to
make the desired yield possible. More
corn should be planted. Where cheap
cultivation is an object. checksoWlne. CT
Wanting IN squares. is the mcst success
fu way Of accomplishing said purpose. \
machine for the purpose is OF course
the best means. but in case CT its abb
sGntr the land can be furroWed III one
direction. and then marked across with
4 marking ploW. or scooter. with the
same distances. four 70 five feet. and the
corn drCipel. four or five kernels. III the
hills at the intersections. The result Is
more stalks and the possibility of work
inc the soil in both directions thus to 4
great extent eliminating hand labor. and
largely improving the chances for an IN
creased WELD When thus planted. the
corn should not be punched in the hills.
but have intervening spaces of about StN
inches The corn may finally be thnned
to Il stand of from three to four stalks,
according to the fertility of the soil.
The method of working now demands
consideration and is Of vital Importance.
Deep preparations was insisted upon Shal-
low after-working is Cf even greater ln-
rtance The harrow system must be
insisted ur0n For this purpose. the
smoothing harrow Tor the first two or
three civilizations and afterwards the
tnetoother horse cultivator are the ideal
st>nce, the narrow scooter with a twenty
inch ScraCc. if held shallow. will answer
the purpose meaourably well. The rea-
son for The Necessity for this method OF
culture lies in the fact that the cnor-
nous eNpanSe Of leaf Of the corn planf.
with the CORE spending evaporating sun
face. demands astonishing supplies OF
water. which must all be lumped up
from the sell by the roots. Shallow cui-
tivation constant stirring OF the surface
to Il depth Of from > to inches con-
serves this supply and in dry weather
prevents suffering The continued growth
tlrl.s assured secures Yields not otherwise
10 he expected.
Since plants consume food only IN so
lution, the greater the supply Of moisture
UP to- the limit Of use by the crop the
greater is the quantity of food consumed
and the develop ment is prorortionate
The greater the dryness of the season
the more cause for aGler.ng TO this prac-
tce and the greater will be tn compara-
tive success.
Ii is understood. Of course. that the
So; thus treated must contain 4 Sufh-
cheney each Of phosphoric acid. potash
and nitrogen or all methods Of cultivation
must fail. Each farmer will have 70
govern himself as to the most appro-
pirate means to be employed. Hence no
specific rules can BE given as to the quan-
t.ty ANA duality Of the fertilizer TO be
used. 1t may. however, III a general
way be stated that an average corn
fertilizer should contain about six Ter
cent phosphoric acid. five per cent potash
and two per ccHt nitrogen. Of winch from
4OG to $50 pounds rer acre would be
fair dose.
BRYAN TYSON.
I.0ng Leaf. y. c.