The Colfax chronicle., 1901-01-19

Tug cOttOu next SEASON.. uc tcnpto-
tion is very strong. Hence we have
decided to give some thoughts on
/ growing corn so as to secure heavy
yields. Will give similar article on
cotton later. -a.s'--, ~e-s
How much corn can be grown up
on an acre? Not simply upon one
acre, but on each acre in our crop?
What ought we to average per acre?
We say we should get seventy-five (75)
bushels per acre. We should not be at
all satisfied with less than fifty (50p
bushels. We can grow over one hun
dred (100) bushels per acre.
We are not gassing. We are not
extravagant. We are within our own
experience, and the experience of our
neighbors and other good farmers in
different sections. 1t has been done.
1t can be done. 1t should be done by
the average farmer throughout the
south.
You can do it in this way. Break
your land deep in the fall or early
winter. How deep? Well, fifteen
inches or more. How can we do this? !?
Simply by running often enough in
one furrow. If you have the teams,
run a heavy two-horse turner first
and good two-horse subsoil right
along behind it. If you have not
enough mules for this, then use long,
sharp steel scooters and follow one
furrow with another. Even the one
horse farmer can do that.
You want a deep soil for corn, be-
cause corn root grow deep, from five
to six feet if the hardpan is broken SO
they can get down in the earth. And
because corn needs and must have a
great deal of water to make large
crops.
Breaking deep gives both of these
conditions, root room and water.
!. But before you do this plowing put
on all the stable manure, lot scrap
ings, and compost and every form of
vegetable matter you can get.~ This
will then be thoroughly mixed and
have time to rot and ferment before
spring.
In suring put on cotton seed or the
meal or fertilizers of any kind you
wish, broadcast, and harrow in thor
oughly. These should be near the
surface and not subjected to the win
ter rains.
You ask how much per acre? Well,
just as much as your faith, backbone,
conscience and pocket book will al
low. The more manure the larger the
crop. There is no danger of getting
too much. If you give depth of soil
and roomy root-bed you need not be
afraid of over manuring.
Now you can prove your faith by
your works. Harrow and harrow
again and again until you have sever
al inches pulverized well. The finer
and deeper the better.
Without any bedding, plant in rows
about four feet and drop the corn
either by hand or with planter, about
twelve to fourteen inches. Put not
less than 5000 stalks per acre. Use
little fertilizer in the drill, 100 or 200
pounds per acre.
just before the corn comes up run
over with light smoothing harrow
Repeat the narrowing in eight or ten
days. Then keep the middles stirred
with scraper or cultivator. If dry
tinue rapid shallow culture until corn
begins to tassel. We have tried this
plan repeatedly and never failed to
get our so bushels per acre. Have
averaged 20 bushels on land very thin
and poor when we began.
Do not be afraid of crowding if you
have plowed deep and manured well.
You will get your corn cheaper the
more you get per acre. We have
grown corn this way for Is cents per
bushel, not counting fodder and stalks
as worth anything.
But with shredding they are worth
a great deal.
1t is folly to plow an acre of land
all the year and get ten to Is bushels
of corn. Take fewer acres. Prepare
better and make more and cheaper
corn.
Dry weather does not hurt corn on
this plan but very little. After few
years your soil will be so deep and
rich, as to be practically Independent
of droughts.
You can sow peas last time you c,:l-
tiyate the corn Then cut your corn
and sow oats or wheat and you will
get such crops as you have not seen
before. This plan not only makes
sure corn crops, but rapidly improves
the soil.
Plenty of corn, and corn and peas
and oats and wheat-hay, make it easy
to raise hogs and beef cattle and poul-
try. 1t is the foundation of prosper
ty.
Try it and prove it false if you can
or true as you will. Don't go cotton
crazy.-Southern Cuitivator.