Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-25
CULTIVATE The CORN
Cownie Of Board Of Control Tells
How to Avoid the Drouth
Effects.
Says Cultivation Will Overcome
Much Of the Effects OF
Dry Weather.
Instructions Sent Out to Man.
ayers OF Farms at the
State Institutions.

LES NdplIleS, july Zo.--lhe BOARD O.
control has taken official notice of tn,
existence of a period of extreme hea
and drouth. The board IS extremel,
anxious to keep the state farms and this
crops thereon in as good condition a.
possible, and John Cownie, in behalf OF
the board of control, has prepared let
ter for transmittal to all superintend.
ents of state Institutions. In this let
ter he urges thorough and oft-repeatec
cultivation as the only means of saving
the corn aud other cultivated crops.
Mr.. Cownie is not a theoretical farm
er but one who has had wide expert
erce IN the management of his own
farm property. He takes no stock in
the View that corn should not be oulti-
waited this weather. No matter, he saws.
II The corn does seem to wither up after
cultivation In the end the corn viii b.
better for having been cultivated. The
same IS true, in his opinion, of all veg
etsnies and crops requiring cultivation.
NY. 1ownie insists there is no reason
Why Iowa farmers should suffer from
failures OF cultivated crops because OF
hol weather and drouth, If they VIII but
pay proper attention TO cultivation and
20 deep piowing. II is true" he saws.
tftt crops may be damaged by no,
WINGS such as we have had, but i. they
aHe properly cultivated and there is ,ils
proper Kind of plowing little need b.
feared from hot weather and drou,h.
IN faet, the right kind of blowing and
cultivation is of great value in enabling
crops 70 stand even the not winds and
IN reducing the damage 10 the mini
rum
The board of control realizes tha,
esqp failures on the INSTITUTION farms
Will compel the board 10 ask for en-
isfsed approximations from THE legisla-
'afe for The purchase Of supplies that
are ordinarily provided from the farms
1T Is with the hope that the farmers OF
the state institutions Will take every
prscautien 70 save the crops that the
foilowins letter has been prepared and
sert out:
TO All Superintendent Of state In
stitutions: The excessive ana prolonged
heat aud drouth VIII no doubt seriously
lnJure the crops on the farms of our
state institutions and every p6ssibi.,
effort should be made 10 conserve the
moisture now in the soil To that end.
the only means within our reach is thor
plgh and o.t-lepeated cultivation and
We would urge you to Keep the cultivat.
crs al work continuously in all culti-
waited crops Among beans and such
crops the common two horse cultiva,ors
can BE- used, preferably with small
shovels or what 10 known as eagle
claws. In cultivatilig potatoes work the
soil towards the vines. the inside shovel.
set to run somewhat swallow the ont
SIDE shovels set 70 run al good depth,
turning the soil towards the potatoes
Corn is now too large for the use. of this
two-horse cultivat0r, and a one-hotss
cultivator with six or more small shov-
els should be used gong twice in the
row Cultivation should be thorough
and no fears need be entertained OF M
jury TO the crops, no matter how dry tn.
soil, provided the stioSels are not run
too clos to the main roots But keep
sufficiently close 10 work little fresh
soil to the plants, thereby conserving
the moisture When most needed.
In the summer Of 1894 the writer cul
tivated his potatoes every week, and
sometimes TWICE a week, thru Augtsr
and part Of September, and thosa 80
cultivated remained green and showed O
small growth. A few rows alongside OF
the others, conditions being the same
We're not cultivated and soon witheretl
and died, yielding no crop whatever Ii
the latter part OF September we had
some rainfall, and the cultivated pota
toes being still alive, assumed a fresh
growth, and a fair crop was harve-. I'd
AS there We're practically no late pota.
toes in the neighborhood the result wa.
particularly gratifying, for, in addition
TO having sufficient for family use. We
sold potatoes to the neighbors and haC
an ample supply To feed our brood sows
the following spring. No fears whatevel
need be entertained In regard 70 thf
cultivation Of thes. crops at this season
Of the year, for the writer has conduct
ed many experiments during the las
forty years on an Iowa ia. m on conserv
ing moisture. and late cultivation ha
Invariably given excellent results
With the high prices now prevailing
i. is absolutely necessary that we sc
cure the best possible results from gu
state farms and we would urge you I,
start your cultivators at once and keel
them going as long az possible, or IN
I'll there is a copious rainfall In cas-
you do no. have one-hoi Sc cuitivator
YOU will estimate for them, and this
board viii secure them for you in tn,
usual manner, and have them prompts,
p,.r,, J..1