The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-12

These averages are typical OF condi-
tfons prevailing in the Gulf and South
Atlantic States and show that the
corn crop on an average scarcely pays
the cost Of production This condition
is the more humiliating because it is
totally unnecessary. Under good
system Of farming the corn crop Of
these States should show an increase
OF 500 per cent
Improve the condition and fertility
Of the soil by rotation Of crops, by
planting eowpeas or other legumes.
or by the use Of stable manure or
compost Corn requires deep and
thoroughly puIverized seed bed
For the best results the seed bed
should not be less than ten inches
deep, and in most soils much deeper.
This can be secured at once by using
q disk ploW followed by subsoil
pIow, or a common turning ploW fol-
i lowed by a subsoil pillow.
Harrow occasionally to keep the.
soil IN good filth and free from weeds
Where the land does not allow Of
fall blowing, break as early as posi-
BILE in the spring.
Plant only the best selected seed,
such as will produce uniform ears Of
excellent quality and large crop.
Plant as early as practicable in
rows four feet apart on well-drained
sandy loan soils, and plant cowpeas
| between the rows at the time the
| corn is cultivated last One inch is
sufficient depth to plant in well-pul-
verified moist soil when the weather
is warm Soils and conditions are so
variable that the farmer must use
his judgment as to the depth of plant
ing.
Harrow corn before and after
! planting to prevent the formation of a
soil crust. Then give shallow cultiva-
ton once in ten days, and always
after a rain, until it is time to lay by.
Deep cultivation or blowing is in
| furious after the corn is eight inches
tall For cultivation sweep is bet
ter than pillow. PIow the middle
deep when the corn is about eight
inches tall, and keep them well
worked.
Thin before the corn is eight inches
till to a single stalk fifteen inches in
the row where there is high fertiliza-
ton, intensive cultivation, and the
soil is good. When the corn is on
| land long in cultivation and but little
fertilizer is used, two feet in the row
will be nearer right. On very rich
soil properly prepared and titled and
| progressively fertilized, the stalks
may stand singIy foot apart in the
row. Here the farmer must use his
judgment, but if a large crop OF corn
is expected there must be q good
stand and more stalks left in the row
than usual. The thicker stand is
supported by better cultivation and
fertilizing
On rich lands and on post-oak
lands nearly level and where the rain
fall is heavy, corn rows should be
Eve to six feet apart and cowpeas
should be planted on the side at the
time of laying by.
When the ears begin to set pull the
tassel out of all weak stalks showing
no ears or only nubbins. This viii
increase the yield and should be done
whether it is the intention to save any
of the field for seed or not.
Select the seed with care, and store
it in dry place Seed from crib
or seed selected from corn left on the
stalk till late in the fall or winter is
not desirable.
1t pays to use commercial fertilizers
on corn. The corn crop requires
more nitrogen than cotton. 1t should
be fortified literally. The kind of
fertilizer used. the quantity, and the
time. of application must be deter
mined by the soil, climate, season
and other conditions and can not be
stated in any general rule. In fact,
all the foregoing directions are sub
ject TO some notifications to meet
conditions of climate, soil, season,
etc. Generally fertilizer that an
alyzes nine to ten per cent. of phos-
phoric acid, three per cent. of nitro
gen and two per cent. of potash does
well for corn. Well rotted stable
manure is good and produces better
results if applied in the winter, so as
to become incorporated with the soil.
The six items to be emphasized in
making a corn crop are the follow
ing: I'D Good drainage; (2) soil
preparation; CD selection of seed;
(4l excellent cultivation; (5) fer
tilization; 60 removing the tassels
from bastard and inferior stalks.
A good corn crop is a basis of pros
perity and ranks next to good cot
ton crops. A. Knapp.