The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-07

ent backward and unpromiSing condition
OF the crop is to be improved upon With
such cultivation can, and ought to,
be given, and with the moisture now in
the land, If we have only hot weather this
condition can be so improved TO bring
the yield nearly up to the average. Few
farmers appreciate what an important
factor the presence of abundant moisture
IN the land is to the we'll doing of the
corn crop and how necessary it Is to con
serve il. In experiments made at the Wis
consin Experiment Station it has been
found that it requires about 80 pounds
OF water to produce d single pound OF dry
matter. By figuring up the amount of
dry matter in an S0-acre field of corn
and multiplying by 80 the pounds of wa
ter that are required to produce the crop
viii be secured. The result Is astonish
ing.
1t does not seem possible that such an
enormous quantity of moisture can be
cured by the corn plants during the grow
ing season, and, more important than ALL
TINS moisture. in most part, Is used dur
ing July and August, the months of least
rainfall IN the year; it can easily be
seen that the conservation of the moisture
in the soil l. an exceedingly important
problem, and one which every corn grow
er IN the country will find it profita bic
to investigate.
The Illinois Station conducted exhaus-
tive tests OF the comparative amount of
moisture conserved by the different meth
DDS of cultivation. Two things were found
TO be true: FIRST, that deep cultivation
conserves soil moisture; and sec
ond, that frequent cultivation
| conserves the moisture most eff
fectivey all plans OF cultivation
| 1t was found that in the deep civilizations,
despite the excess OF moisture, the yield
was very low. compared with shallow cul-
ture. To find the cause OF this an extern
Sive series OF experiments with the prun-
ing cutting OFF OF the roots OF the
corn plant was conducted.
In this root-prunng experiment a field
/ OF corn was selected and was
root pruned two inches deep. THIS root
pruning done with broad, sharp
spade. The spade was set down about SIX
inches from the stalk OF corn III the hlll
on every side OF the hill. The spade was
pushed down into the soil and a guard
allowed 1t to penetrate just TO the depth
planned for IN the experiment. The whole
field was cultivated with a weeder and all
weeds not removed in this way Were cut
out by hand. This was done 50 that the
rows OF corn would receive equal cultEva-
pruning was done three times IN the sea
son at about the ordinary times of culti-
vation. The second row was not pruned
and the third pruned four inches
deep The fourth row not pruned
and the fifth row was pruned SIX inches
deep This was repeated until Il large
field was treated IN this manner.
Ghe resulting yields were follows for
tt rec seasons: Not pruned 81 bushels an
acre; pruned two inches deep, 60 bushels
an acre; pruned four inches deep, As
bushels an acre; pruned SIX inches deep,
SO bushels an acre.
In fact, these and all other similar ex-
periments, simply prove that any injury
to the roots OF the plants reduces the
yield The amount of this reduction was
about III proportion to the number OF
roots cut OF. These experiments explain
very clearly the reduction OF the yelt
by deep cultivation
The results of experiments, and from
practical experience, TO the effect
that continued cultivation, keeping a loose
mulch the surface OF the Wi, give
the best results. The generaT practice
coming INTO vogue among the most pro
gressive and successful corn growers il
that after corn reaches Il height to IN
: terfere in cultivating with the ordinary
two-horse Cultlvator to use a single horse
with five-toOth harrow OF drag and cui
tivate between the rows of corn during
the setting Of the ears on the stalks The
yields TO the acres of 100 bushels have bee1
secured by this plan and experience has
proved it to be practical and succcsstu
on Il large scale.
before you cultivate shallow cultivate
frequently and the result with the lan(
so full of moisture, as 1t now Is, wal
Droba blv be a yield of corn which may
suffice to make good the deficiency which
an ungenial May, and consequent late
, planting, threatens.
Let the same careful and frequent cul
tivation be given the cotton and tobacco
crops The same principles apply to these
as to the corn crop though these Deln&
crops having a less widely ramltied roo
system there is less danger OF root pruh
. ing in the middles of the rows with some
what deeper cultivation than would b'
safe with the corn crop.
When it is impossible longer to continue
, cultivation without breaking down tn
stalks or leaves, then lay the crop BY
, Iavel and in doing so seed the land WITT
COW meas or crimson clover, Sapllng Glove
I and a small quantity OF rape, say tw'
mounds to the acre, so that Wheii IN
nripcipal crop is harvested there VIII b
! something left growing on the land q
: conserve fertility and moisture and pre-
q vent Washing and at the same time 1ul
, nish fall, winter and spring . Ahg 10
: stock.
After the small grain crops have oee1
> harvested, and when not seeded IN sraS
. NJ clover. run over the stubbie with alS
harrow and SOW either COW peas or crlih III
i, CON clover or saplng clover or rape. VIII
:, oomc wheat or oats mixed with these' an
: thus find the land something pet'el ~ y"