The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-04-15

flDer 266
Oli ---..-....-.-..-..-..-........ 4.IO
Protein .-..lU.9z
Carbohydrates s.......................S035 50
The composition of the kernel may be de
termined in part by simple mechanical exami-
nation. The proportion of hard, flinty part
of kernel TO soft starch at the top of the kernel
and under the germ indicates per cent of pro.
teiu and starch in the kernel The size OF
the germ indicates the approximate proper.
ton OF oil and protein. In selecting seed il
is Il good plan to select ears having kernels
with good sized "chit' or germ. These breed
ing experiments have proved that the amounts
OF protein, oil and starch may be varied by the
corn breeder, both to increase or decrease any
one of these elements of composition. The
development of milk producing qualities in
the dairy breeds, or the per cent. of sugar in
the sugar beet indicates what may be accom-.
plished by corn selection.
Culture.
The third important feature in the produc-
ton OF q corn crop is the culture; that is, the
preparing of seed bed, kind of planting and
cultivation. The preparation of the seed bed
should be of such a nature as to furnish the
requirements for termination Of the seed corn;
moisture. warmth and air. The depth and
time Of plowing, the floating, disking and
narrowing OF the seed bed must vary with the
soil and climate. However, the general prin.
cipIes of thorough fitting OF the soil, des.
troying the weeds before the corn is planted,
and the securing OF mulch TO prevent the
escape of soil moisture, are the foundations OF
successful corn culture.
Distance Apart of Hills.
In planting corn, the distance apart Of the
rows and hills in the row is important The
general tendency is to bring The hills closer
together aud plant fewer kernels in the hill.
Ten years ago the ordinary width planter wa
at least feet l0inches, and varied to as wide
as feet inches. Today the most popular
width planter is s feet inches, varying TO 4.
narrow as feet inches. To show the res
son for this bringing together of the rows, {
s foot inch planter win plant 3240 hills il
an acre. A foot 6 inch planter, just two
inches closer together, will plant 1866 hill.
per acre, a gain Of 8l6 hills. If these hill.
contain two well developed ears, this would
mean a gain of about niue bushels per acre
Number of Stalks in Hill.
With improved seed ii IS not necessary Il
plant a large number Of kernels in the hill
The latest improved planters are so arranged
that, If set to drop two kernels in hill, abou
tain two kernels. With improved seed corn,
at least, 81 per cent. of the kernels will pro
duce stalks, SO that, il two kernels are put il
a hill. we are certain of securing two stalks
As the seed corn becomes more and more
improved, we can depend on every stalk pro
ducing an ear When this condition is Sc
cured, two stalks in the hill will produce a
large Weld per acre as the soil can yield in
season; so that the evolution of the number o.
stalks per hill is toward less stalks to the hill
an average of about two stalks per hill giving
best results.
Killing VS.. Drilling.
Ia new country, the usual practice is Il
drill corn. With few noxious weeds, will
abundant soil fertility, the farmer was able tt
pnt in more stalks in an acre than would b,
possible in hilled corn, and the results wer'
generally satisfactory. However, as the mos
destructive aud harmful Of weeds spread Owe
the corn belt. it was found TO be difficult tC
get rid of them in drilled corn. As the ex
cessive fertility was drained out Of the soil by
continual cropping, the large nnmber of stalk
became detrimental; so that the tendency i,
away from drilling back to the old plan o.
planting in hills.
Many farmers contend that by stringing ou
the kernels in the row of drilled corn, tht
stalk will produce better ears than in the hills
With the idea of trying to ascertain the facts
the Illinois station carried on a series of ex
periments for several years. The experiment
was so arranged that an equal amount oi
ground was given to drilled corn and hilleC
corn. The same number of stalks in the hill
were strung out in the row of drilled corn
The corn was all thinned after planting, so
that we secured an equal number of stalks ii
the drilled field as in the hilled field. The
fields were kept free from weeds, and the
same cultivation given IN both cases. 1ht
experiment WAS repeated with different soils
varieties of corn and seasons. As a result,
we found in figuring up the average yields
there was less than bushel difference IN the
Yields ofthe drilled and hilled fields. Further
experiments are in progress along this line
which will add to the interest of the expert
meut. But it is safe TO say that there is little
difference in Yields in the two practices, and
that one system has little advantage over the
other. up to four stalks in the hill. With i'm
proved seed, it is not necessary to plant thi:
number of kernels in the hill. In view of the
great advantage of hilled corn during cultiva
ton, the evidence is largely in favor of tht
practice of hilliag.
The depth of planting is another question
which varies with the soil condition. Corr
can be planted deeper in sandy soil which
drains out readily in the spring and warns
up quickly, than in the heavier clay soil. The
corn should be planted deep enough to secure
sufficient moisture for the best termination
but not so deep that it will be placed in cold
wet soil, where the kernel is liable to rot anC
decay, and, in any event, to cause protractec
termination, which is injurious to the plant.
No matter what depth the seed is planted
the roots branch out at about constant dis
tance from the surface. In ordinary prairie
loan this distance is between two and three
inches. If the kernel is set down lower thar
this point ii sends out a root system, which
develops a tube-like structure, reaching Il
within two or three inches of the surface. A
this point the real root system branches out
the stem of the plant is sent to the air, anC
the first root system decays and is lost. Sucl
a condition must result disastrously TO th'
young plants, and reduce the yield of the crop
Cultivation of Corn.
The cultivation of the corn crop must de
pend upon the condition of seasons, soil, ant
the amount of weeds in the field. The cult
walton of the crop is for the purpose of de
stroying weeds, conserving soil moisture, AM
aerating the soil. The weediness of the hel
will depend upon the work done on the see
bed. If the seed bed has been properly han
died preparatory to planting, most of the weed
will have been destroyed, so that the princlpa
object of cultivation is that of conserving th
soil moisture.
CONTINUED on FOURTH PAGE.