Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-25
Corn Counsel from q Corn Expert

Corn Counsel from q Corn Expert.
The time is fast approaching for the
tiller of the soil to get In harness for
strenuous farm work In all its phases
and while We must not detract attention
work Il does seem good to know that
more attention 10 to be paid to the rails
ing of that great and indispensable crop,
corn.
The corn and grain crop has been too
long neglected for the simple reason
that We here in the east have too long
been afraid of the west, not only In the
raising of corn and grain but In the pro-
ductiOn of beef and other meat products.
And right here let me say that II the
farmer in the west Is getting his just
share Of the high prices in grain and
meats, then We have little cause to COM
plain. But from what We learn from
the market reports it is the speculatOr
that is to blame for good deal of the
high prices.
The Maine Dairymen's Association
and the University of Maine have start
ed on noble mission by encouraging
the planting of corn by both old and
young and we should all plant at least
l-2-acre and as much more as possible.
Some farmers claim that there is no
soil on their farms suitable on which to
raise corn, but l know that there are
but few, if any, farms of so acres or
more here in Penobscot County but can
be made to produce one or more acres
of good corn If properly handled. We
can raise a large crop of potatoes on
quite heavy clay soil, but We can't raise
the best quality on such soil. Any light
clay loam, we'll trained, will raise good
quality of potatoes and II the same soil
is properly enriched it will produce a
good crop of corn. Rocky or gravelly
land when we'll filled with loan will ma
ture corn few days earlier, but II lack
ing in loan the crop will be dwarfed.
There are a few "don't's" which
should be observed in planting any crop
and the one most essential is, "Don't
plant too late." Some farmers plant
late to avoid late spring frost and get
"pipped" with an early fall frost, which
usually ruins a whole summers work.
Don't plant too early, for the seed may
rot on account of cold ground and COM
pei US to work our ground over and
plant the second time.
For flint corn plant from the 10Th to
25th of May and If the seed is right, the
soil IL rich and the plants are we'll cared
for, there is little danger of poor crop
at the harvest And at the harvest,
don't husk out the ears while the husk
is too green, especially that wanted for
seed, for If we do the kernel will lose
that bright luster which is so essential
to make the best appearance and the
corn will have a dead cast and l am
satisfied that the seed is injured there
by. :,
Put the corn in small shocks, we'll
tied, and let it stand until well dried out
and avoid all heating. Husk, trace and
hang in dry place with good air pass
ing through and it will keep all right.
Let US all boom corn, potatoes, grain
and hay. Yes, in the raising of grain,
let us encourage the raising of wheat.
We used to raise good wheat and can do
it here now as we'll as in AroOstook.
Wheat in Maine and New England as
we'll as corn and other grains, yields
larger average per acre than in the west.
As soon as we in central and southern
Maine get to raising wheat, men who
own suitable water power will take
courage and build roller -four mills to
keep company with those in Aroostook.
Let us not look at the hundreds OF
million bushels of wheat or the billion
bushels of corn raised in the west, but
remember the high average yield per
acre in Maine and New England and
take heart and plant and SOW.
The fodder from one acre OF corn IN
Maine when we'll cured will more than
pay for all human labor and that makes
the cost of the corn quite reasonable.-
B. F. Clark in Maine Farmer.