The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-05-27
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
CORN AND ITS CULTURE.
A Chapter From n Practical Farmer
On One Of Most linz
portant Crops.

but it is now generally conceded by
botanists that corn was not known to
the old world until its discovery in
the new. 1t is probably indigenous to
Mexico, but at the time of the discov-
cry of this continent it was a staple
of agriculture from La Plata valley
as far north as the United States. In
1920 the pilgrims found extensive fields
of corn at Plymouth, Mass, and Column
bus found il on the islands Of the West
Indies. II has been found in the burial
mounds of the natives who preceded
those of our day and also in the cata-
combs of Peru.
There is nothing that shows the
antiquity and general cultivation OF a
plant more than its connection with
the religious rites of the natives. Corn
has been found to have been connected
with the religious rites Of the most an
cient natives of America The Smith
sonian institution has an ear Of corn
which was found in Peru, buried in
grave eleven feet under ground. The
antiquity of corn is proved by the fact
that, although much search has been
made in the tropical and sub-tropicai
regions of America, no botanist has
found il in the wild state. And 1t is
doubtful whether the true origin OF
this king of Grains" win ever be
ascertained.
For plant-growth four things are
necessary-plant-food heat, light and
vitality. Plant-food is derived from
the soil and the atmosphere. The
farmer does not have to consider the
food derived from the air, because 1t
1t plentiful, but there is a limited
amount Of the food that is obtained
from the soil, and it must be replaced
If removed by continuous cropping.
The plant extracts carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere by means of its leaves,
and its other foods are taken up from
the soil through the roots. Corn needs
an abundance of three of the common
constituents of fertilizers-nitrogen,
PHOSPHORUS and potash The nitrogen
develops the stalk and the PHOSPHORUS
and potash are used principally In
making the seed. Nitrogen is neces-
sary for healthy stalks. as also are
PHOSPHORUS and potash necessary for
well-filled ears.
Now that we have learned how corn
grows, we are ready for planting. The
time for planting is after the danger
of frost is over, until about July first
The depth of planting varies with the
kind of soil, with the time in the sea-
son the planting is done, and also with
the amount of moisture in the soil.
In loose soil. plant the seed from
two to four inches deep. The later in
the season the planting is done the
deeper 1t should be. II the corn is
planted in hills, not more than four
stalks should be planted to the hill.
On rich soils, large number OF stalks
to the hill gives the best results. An
extra number Of seed should always be
planted so as to have good stand left
after the proper deduction has been
made for the seed that do not germi-
nate.
As we are now ready to cultivate our
crop Of corn we will name and discuss
the reasons why we should cultivate.
The object of cultivation is-.O to
destroy weeds and grass. (2) to con-
serve as much moisture in the soil as
possible, and 90 to aerate the soil. II
the soil is not frequently stirred, a
crust Is formed full of small tubes
through which the moisture in the soil
| is repaidly evaporated. The principal
fault with our corn soils is that there
is not enough moisture present to ma
ture as large crop as the soil can
feed. Weeds and grass use the same
| foods as corn does, therefore their
presence is injurious to the growth OF
| the corn plants. As far as possible
none of the root system of the corn
plant should be injured. To prevent
| injury to the roots shallow cultivation
is necessary. The farmers of the south
| still use the old-style scooter and
scrape" and the hoe. But we will use
better farm implements for the cul-
tivation of all crops as soon as inven-
tive genius produces labor-and-time-
saving implements suitable to our con-
| ditions.
| There are two methods Of harvesting
/ corn in the south. The first is the
old method of pulling the fodder and
corn by hand and burning the stalk.
This method has many disadvantages
and faults. The most disagreeable
harvesting season Is pulling. The Sec
ond method presents so many advan-
tages that the reading and thinking
farmer is quick to adopt it. The i'm
PIGMENTS used ia harvesting corn by
this method are the binder, the shred
der. and in most cases, the baler. The
corn should not be cut until 1t is well
matured. Then il should be shocked
In shocks of from ESQ to 300 stalks, and
left standing in the field until thor
oughly cured. A man can shred his
corn at two dollars an acre. or have II
done by a travelling shredder for from
one to one and half dollars an acre
Corn is the best American stock
food. The reasons are that 1t is more
generally grown than any other grain
The cost of growing is very small COM
pared to the amount of material yield
ed. and it is grown with so much ease
In common practice, only the fodder
and grain are fed to stock, but II the
plant has been shredded the whole
4 .