The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-04-24
PREPARING CORN GROUND
Isua Rspert Corn Grower Tells How
to DO It

amount o. their corn cultivation be-
fore nthe,corn is planted by thoroughly
working in this direction. One Sc
cures tisst, perfect security of per-
feet stand of corn from the fact that
each kernel is brought fully In con-
tact with the soil in that condition
that ENSURES each grain the proper
surrounding for producing a quick
gersmination; second in securing a
even stand while if not SO prepared
and elods,and trash are left and are
br0Gghttin contact with the planting
the seed will from lack of moisture,
too much air and heat be entirely
killed or weakened and the growth re-
tarded until such times as the rain has
decompesed the clods and brought the
soil faQDly in. contact with the corn,giv-
ing ytsur corn from the same cultiva.
tion at beast from one to two weeks
variation,in maturing, the latter often
being caught by the frost, the damage
being charged to poor seed, when in
fact 1t was due to the cultivation.
A satisfactory seed bed having been
prepared and planted in due time with
good seed, what next does the farmer
desire? He wishes the corn to have
the free use'0f every square inch Of
that field. he wishes freedom from
weeds: he wishes to utilize the moist
ure held in reserve in the subsoil for
the best possible growth of the crop
for the next ninety days.
When conditions are alright and the
sun warm and 'theground dry we would
as soon as possible follow such cultiya-
tion with a corn plough or cultivator,
running deep and;as near the row as
possible without disturbing the corn,
which will thoroughly kill all seeds
that may have been germinated and
giving the ground between the rows
deep cultivation, crossing the same
with a harrow, or better still the
modern weed killer, IA tool that we
have found very eftieient, but IN its
place with grand effect one can use
their harrow which gives thorough
cultivation until your corn may be
from four to eight inches high, when
we use mostly the Earle CLAW or bet
ter still the Tower surface Cultiyator;
in crossing this with the weeder or
a harrow in this manner tine work is
done most effectively, quickly and
easy.
II the weeds are allowed to become
deep rooted, then deep cultivation
must be adopted, and this necessarily
involves root pruning which, however
advisable in certain climates and un-
der certain conditions, is certainly not
advisable in the Mississippi valley.
Once more we call the attention Of
our readers to the fact that a dust
mulch Of two or three inches shuts of
to great extent the evaporation Of
the water and utilize the main bulk OF
the stored water in growing a crop q
corn. This must be done if we are tt
get the very best results. 1t is no
possible for any man to grow goot
crop of corn with the average rainfall
alone, of the Mississippi valley. A
good crop can be grown only by utiliz
ing the water stored in the subsoil
and to utilize this we must have re
course to the mulch of dry dirt formed
wherever you have surface cultivation
following well prepared seed bed an
shallow cultivation cannot be adopte,
unless the soil is thoroughly prepare,
pefore planting. If planting is don
amidst a crop of weeds, these in al
probability will be so firmly establish
ed as not to be disturbed by the sha
low shovel. Under such circumstance
it is our practice to use the dee
shovels to destroy the first crop {
weeds before the root system Of tn
corn is developed to an extent tina
will render them liable to injury. Ii
deed, I would advise the complet
IT destruction Of weeds at all hazard
although it is much better to do th
when they are young and tender.
There is another factor that shoul
receive some attention, that is tt
leaving of the surface soil as smoot
and level as possible after every ploy
ing. A ridged surface exposes MOI
soil to the drying action Of the su
than smooth one, which is anotht
argument in favor of shallow plow
This may seem a small matter, an
yet the difference between success ar
failure in any business is often due
* the attention raid to details,
II small things. 81. B. Armstrong
A.
Now's the time to take Rocky Mou
tain Tea; it drives out the microbes
winter; it builds up the stomach, XII
lneys and liver. A wonderful sprir
tonic that makes sick people well.
r. Miller