The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-08-18

the disk harrow roller, drag, etc, will
assist us In making an ideal seed bed
for the corn. A good drag levels up
the many small inequalities of the sur.
face and makes corn planting much
more satisfactory. Where a large acre
age is to be planted, replanting and
thinning are out OF the question;
therefore we must plant just the right
number OF live, vigorous grains to
each hill or in the drill. To secure
this condition the seed corn must be
graded before or after Smelling, and
then the planter adjusted to suit chat
particular batch of seed. There are
some windmills and corn graders on
the market that will grade the seed
corn very well, but a careful man can
sort the ears so that those having
grains of similar size or shape may
be shelled together This is important
for two small grains may be dropped
together when a plate is used with
holes large enough to pass the larger
grains. On the other hand very large
grains may cause a few misses Plant
ers with plates having circular holes
will drop large broad grains accurate
ly, but two Simmer grains may get
crowded into the same holes that bare
ly accommodate the single grain. See
Figs. ~. However, IL we plant but
few acres of corn. and can spare the
extra time required. planting the corn
thickly and thinning out to an even
stand will give very satisfactory re-
suits With a tool such as is shown
in Figs. 3-4, thinning is not a laborious
task, and the work may be performed
swiftly and easily Fig. 3 is a top view
and Fig. is a side view. This tool
should be made of steel about Y inch
wide and be fitted to a handle about
four feet long The inside of the "
shaped edge should be kept sharp.
Depth of planting. | find, is an i'm
portant factor In securing a good
stand OF corn, continues the writer
in the Rural New Yorker From one
half to one inch deep and the soil
firmed down is about right. II all
conditions are not right some corn
may not be covered at all while some
may be covered three or four inches
deep. and both conditions are fatal TO
termination. II a single drill be used
II should have a small press wheel
behind the shoe to regulate the depth
OF planting, as we'll as to firm the soil
over the seed. OF course most double
planters have the wheels following the
shoes, but owing to varying soil condi.
tons the shoes may run at almost
any depth A year or two ago a neigh.
Dor fitted wooden floats to the shoes
OF his planter and so could exactly
regulate the depth of planting. These
floats were about one foot long and
five inches wide. and. In use. followed
the surface OF the field at all times.
30 that all the corn was put In at the
same depth. The planter frame must
not be locked down, but must be left
free TO follow the surface Gig. So |
now notice that there Is a similar de-
vice, but made Of iron, upon the mar.
ket, and Judging from my own expert.
ence such a contriyance is a valuable
addition to any planter. In cloddy
ground these floats work all right; the
big elods are either crushed or pushed
aside. and the corn is covered with
well-pulverlzed soil After the corn
comes up and you notice a few miss.
Ing hills, let them go; do not re-
plant. The surrounding hills have the
start of the replants. and beaten in
the race for moisture and fertility.
the replants will make but few weak
stalks of fodder. If you do not replant
the surrounding stalks will produce
larger ears and thus make up for the
loss Of the missing hill.