Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-04
aAvAGEs or THE CORN Pillow.
Deep Cultivation Destroys Millions Of
Bushels Of Corn Every Year.
{Bv the Editer Of the American Farm
Worldly

THH deep-set corn pillow, ripping
Its devastating way through the
!. roots Of the plants, creating
havoc at every jump. Is familiar
sight IN this country, not only In the
Corn Belt, but in every state where
corn liz grown.
The damage to the growing corn
and the consequent loss Of grain by
checking the growth of the plant
cannot, of course, be estimated. but
that the damage runs into millions
or bushels cannot be doubted
Too many farmers have yet to learn
that deep blowing in the corn field
should be done before planting and
not after. When 1t is known that
corn roots penetrate the ground, and
hard ground at that, to the depth of
three feet or more, and also spread
out on each side for an equal dis
lance the damage from deep blowing
Is apparent.
IT corn is cultivated deeply and the
pillow runs close to the plant, the
lateral roots being broken, those not
disturbed go deeper into the soil. But
the reduction in the number of roots
or course, lessons the ability of the
plant to take up moisture and plant
food and the result Is to dwarf the
plant and reduce the yield of corn
II the seed bed has been put into
first class condition the first cultivation
can be moderately deep because the
roots will not have attained a growth
SUFFICIENT to be much damaged, but as
the a u, 49, 4
become shallQwer. and toward the
close of the growing period dust
mulch can be maintained by cultiva-
ton Of an inch In depth.
The dust mulch. by the way lie
really the right thing for the conser-
walton of moisture. If corn can be Gull
tivated lightly Immediately after each
rain, weeds will not only be kept down
but moisture will be retained in the
soil much longer than if cultivation is
put off two or three days
AS the plant takes It's food in solu-
ton 1t Is evident that the ground mus,
be kept moist all the time If possible
Deep blowing, therefore. not only de.
stroys the roots but Is a positive
drawback in keeping moisture in the
ground.
Deep blowing does not injure corr
SO much in wet season as In times Of
drought. There is no doubt that corr
may, IN dry seasons. he injured tt
the extent of several bushels pei
acre by setting the cultivator shove
deeply to cut the roots and admit al
to the sub soil.
] 1t Is good plan to harrow tn,
ground lightly between the time o
planting and the appearance of tn,
corn. This will keep down the weed,
to great extent and will make afte1
cultivation much easier. The righ
way to fight weeds is to go at then
before they attain any considerable
size and keep at them until the corr
| is laid by.
Many farmers believe that corr
should not be cultivated more thar
two or three times at the most durins
the season, but we have observed thai
every phenomenal yield of corn II
prize contests was the result Of con.
slant and frequent cultivation, be.
ginning before the plant was up ant
Leasing only when 1t is SO large as t.
be endangered by further work.
The last cultivation Of corn shoult
| be done in such a manner as to leave
the ground as nearly level as possible
| Early cultivation may be done b,
throwing the ground slightly toward.
the plants in order that the furrov
may carry off any surplus moisture
after heavy rain. But the old-fash
Toned way of throwing up huge
ridge around the plants at the las
blowing. leaving a deep furrow in thu
center is not the best way.
In many portions of the South thi.
ridging is done at the third cultiva.
ton and is followed by small pillow
which splits out the middles" thu.
leveling the ground to some extent.
II farmers will confine cultivation
| to depth of about three inches they
will raise better corn than by an,
other method. Cultivation at thi.
depth will effectually prevent eyapo,
ration of moisture, while 1t does no
affect the capillary rise to the surface
and the roots will be left undisturbet
to keep the plant growing until 1t il
finished.
MISSED A GOOD THING.