The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-04-15
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
Amount of Moisture Per Growth
of Corn Crop.

of Corn Crop.
At the Wisconsin Experiment Station, IT
has been found that it requires about 3lo
pounds of water TO produce single pound OF
dry matter. By figuring up the amount OF
dry matter in an 80 acre field OF corn, anu
multiplying by $40, the pounds OF water re-
ouired TO produce the crop will be secured.
The result is astonishing.
1t does not seem possible that such an
enormous quantity of moisture can be secureu
by the corn plants during the growing season )
and more important than all, this moisture III
most part is used during June, July ana Au
gust, the months of least rain fall in the year,
so it can easily be seen that the conservation
of the moisture in the soil is most important
problem, and one which must be investigated
by the corn grower.
Conservation of Soil Moisture.
The Illinois station conducted exhaustive
tests of the comparative amount OF moisture
consumed by the different methods OF cultlVa'
ton. Two things were found to be true
| First, that deep cultivation conserves soil
moisture; and, second, that frequent cutiva-
ton conserves the moisture most effectively
of all kinds of plans for cultivation. 1t was
found that in the deep Civilizations, despite the
| excess of moisture, the yield was very low,
COMPARED with shallow culture. 10 find the
cause of this, an extensive series of expert
ments with the pruning or cutting OIL the root
| of corn plant were conducted.
Effect of Root Pruning.
| In this root pruning experiment field OF
| corn was selected, aud one row was root
| pruned two inches deep. This root pruning
was done with broad, sharp spade. The
| spade was set down about six inches from the
stalk of corn in the hill on every side of the
| hill. The spade was pushed down into the
| soil, and guard allowed it to penetrate just
to the depth planned for in the experiment.
The whole field was cultivated with weeder,
| and all weeds not removed in this way were
cut out by hand. This was done so that the
rows of corn would receive equal cultivation
and be under like conditions. The pruning
was done three times in the season, at about
the ordinary times of cultivation. The second
row was not pruned, and the third row was
pruned four inches deep. The fourth row was
not pruned, and the fifth row was pruned six
inches deep. This was repeated until large
field was treated in this manner.
The resulting yields were as follows, for
three seasons:
Not pruned ....................62 bus. per acre.
Pruned two inches deep......6O "
Pruned four inches deep......45
Pruned six inches deep.......3O "
In fact, these and all other similar expert
ments simply prove that any injury to the roots
of the plant reduces the yield. The amount
of this reduction was about in proportion to
the number of roots cut off, These experl
menls explain the reduction of the yield by
deep cultivation.
Frequent Cultivation.
The best results of experiments and from
practical experience are to the effect that con-
tinued cultivation, keeping loose mulch on
the surface of the soil, gives the best results.
The general practice coming into vogue among
the most progressive and successful corn grow
ers is, after the corn reaches height to inter
fere in cultivaiiug with the ordinary two horse
cultvatOr. to use a single horse with i've
tooth harrow or drag, and cultivate between
the rows of corn during the setting of the ears
on the stalks. The yields per acre of 100
bushels have been secured by this plan, aud
experience has proven it to be a practical and
successful plan on Il large scale. OF course,
if there is plenty of rainfall, such precaution
is not necessary.
Methods of Cultivation.
A test Of few Of the different methods Of
cultivation in pse at present resulted as toll
| lows:
! Weeds allowed TO grow.........58 bus. per acre
| Weeds cut out with hoe, and a
loose mulch made with hoe,
frequent cultivation ........96 - -
| Two inches deep cultivation,
small shovels. 80 " -
Four inches deep cultivation,
small shovels. - .
Six inches deep cultivation,
| large shovels - g
Six inches deep cultivation,
! small shovels. ....................84 - -
| Golpher or blade cultivation...SS g :"
Deep early and shallow late...S5 . .
Shallow early and deep late....S9 = .
| Mulch with graSS..................S2
The weeds must be kept out al any cost, anc
if they have not been removed before the crop
appears they must be destroyed The kline
of cultivation will depend upon the local con
ditions, but the implement that stirs the sol
and leaves loose mulch, destroys the weeds
and avoids root pruning, will give the hes
result under all circumstances.