Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-21
SWEET CORN CULTURE.

(By Il. Walker McKeen, Fryeburg0
Much of the success of the sweet corn
crop depends upon the proper prepara-
tion of the land. Our practice for years
has been TO grow it upon the green sward,
upon land little inclined to sand
Sweet corn is a little more difficult to
get started than yellow corn, and there
fore should be grown on rather lighter
soil. We spread from five to eight cords
of good barn manure per acre on the
green savard, either in spring or fali as
is most convenient. The land Is then
plowed about six inches deep, using
plow that turns rolling, broken furrow.
Years ago we abandoned the use OF the
flat turning plow, TO the manifest aoVah-
tace of all crops grown. The object of
turning the rolling, lap furrow, is first,
To mix the manure and the organic mat
ter, which usually is far more abundant
in the two or three inches of the top OF
the soil, thoroughly from the top to the
bottom of the furrow, and second, to be-
oin the pulverization, with the plow, by
breaking the soil at the same time that
il is turned. After the plowing comes
the fitting of the seed bed. Ii spring
plowed, the land is first rolled, then the
disc harrow is used, first lengthwlSe OF
the burrows, then crosswise of the fur-
rows. then diagonally. always tapping
the harrow one half, and doing with it
all the harrow is capable of, by using
four horses, setting the discs well round
and walking the horses as rapidly as
they can stand. A team Will accomplish
more in one hour walking at the rate of
four miles an hour, than it will IN three
hours, walking at the rate OF two miles
per hour. because the land is tossed and
turned about more, and the lifting effect
of the discs is increased SO much. once
over with the discs, tapping half, is
eoual TO three times over without lap
ping. The soil in this way is thrown In
opposite directions, and the land is kept
level instead of being thrown in ridges
rs il is where the harrow is not tapped.
If we think the land is not in the best
possible condition for the smoothing
harrow, after the three times over with
the discs, it is narrowed again, IN the
opposite direction diagonally, when
usually completes the work.
For completing the seed bed, we use
the spike-toothed smoothing harrow.
We did use the Acme, but our soil is now
so mellow that it will not clear II any
weight is placed upon it. We have ire
quently kept our four horses on the
smoothing harrow. After the discing as
indicated, once over with the smoothing
harrow usually sufhces to make hhe'
smooth, level seed bed. go
The sweet corn is now planted in drills,
three feet apart, with horse corn plant
er. using about eight quarts OF seed, ana
APPLYING about $50 pounds OF some
standard brand of phosphate per acre.
We intend to go over the field twice with
the weeder, before the corn comes up,
going crosswise of the rows the hrst
time. a few days after planting. lshould
have said that if the ground is very dry,
or il it is lumpy, It's rolled before tue
weeder is applied. The use of the weed
er is continued every few days until the
corn is six iuches high, when the cult
| vation is begun. We use two-horse,
riding cultivator, which WORKS astriue
the row, and can be guided by the Iee',
so as to work very near the corn. Inc
weeder is alternated with the cultivator
| in an attempt to keep fine surface ana
prevent weeds from growing. The cuiti-
yator is run quite deeply the first time
over, after that it is run as shallow rs
possible.
This work is continued till the last OF
July or first of August when grass ana
clover seed is sown in the corn, using a
Cohoon broadcast sower for the purpose.
/ The seed is worked in with either the
weeder or a diamond -tOothed Iron Age
cultivator. If the corn Qeayes and staiks)
is thoroughly dry, the weeder can DC
used, if not the cultivator takes its place