Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-26

| recent SlO" SUOlH.
What 1 Have Learned About
Corn and Corn Growing.
RAY BECK. Dist. 17-second Prize.
/ have learned in the past year or
years something as to corn n uc-
cessful growth Of it. Taking the
corn. as first in seed, it should be
gathered in early fall and hung or
kept in a dry place where it cannot
be harmed by animals. In picking
seed n should not pick just for the
LARGEST ears, but for ar averaged size
ear which could be obtained through
out. The kernels as regard position
should be in, as nearly as possible,
straight rows. The ear should be
symetrical; the kernels should be
from three eighths to n half an
inch long.
The kernels, when the ear has
thoroughly dried out, should tit close
! y together so as to make a solid ear.
In yellow corn the cob sould be red
and should not be too large in proper
tion to the length and size OF the
kernel. If the end Of the ear is not
filled out we'll, it should be broken of
to where good kernels are found.
When shelled, it should be shelled
carefully so as not to bruiSe 1t and
should be sorted 80 as a uniform
amount of kernels would be dropped
in each hill.
AS regards planting, the springs or
this climate differ 70 that there Is no
uniform time for planting but gener-
ally about the 10th to the 18th OF
May is the uniform time or when the
cottonwood is just beginning to leaf
out,
II corn be planted in sandy soil it
can generally be planted about a week
sooner than in black loan soil. In
addition to the preparing of seed 1t
should be tested in the house before
planting to see If the seed will grow.
+ In preparing soil for corn it should
be plowed In early fall so that the
seeds and other parts of weeds will
have time to decay in the fall n al
so so the seed will not ripen. 1t
should be plowed from four to six
inches deep. II the soil is not rich,
or II the soil is rich, a fertilizer
should be used such as barn manure
or a crop Of clover plowed under. AS
regards working the ground In the
fall, besides blowing, it is not neces-
sary, unless weeds should start
Fgrowth again.
In the spring the ground should be
worked very well, pnlverized n har-
rowed so that a good seed bed Is
formed and the early started weeds
be checked. After your ground IS pre-
pared the seed in due time should be
planted from two to three inches
deep. II the ground is a little damp 1t
should be planted a little more shall
low but If in a dry soil it may be
planted deeper although not neces'
sary unless cut worms bother.
In planting corn II your seed Is
good, it should test at least % pei
cent and then about three kernels
planted to the hill If possible. Too
many stalks in a hill will crowd each
other and not produce good large
ears, while il only a few are planted
there might be one kernel which was
no good and this way a very thin
stand would be the result.
After the corn Is planted the
ground should be cultivated to make
it mellow and to prevent the growth
of weeds. After the corn is about
two or three inches high it a still
be narrowed without injuring the
corn very much.
The corn now does not need furthel
cultivation for a little while until !,
gets a little larger and then it should
be plowed using the shields, not pillow
ing too close to the hill as to nproot
the small corn.
Great care should be taken in the
cultivation SO as not to cover the
corn or to emove the soil from
around 1t. 1t should after this be
plowed crosswise and ~lengthwise foul
or five times with 40 great space o.
time between plowings. The GROUND
should be kept mellow and should by
all means not be plowed when the
ground Is very wet n it will become
hard.
After all of this work has been per
formed b corr should be resdyy &c bs
laid aside so that it will o stop its
growth and tassel out. After tassel
ing out it will soon form small ears
To insure a good crop after you have
laid 1t by the weather should be
warm and not have many hot winds
so as to blight the leaves.
When the corn is thoroughly ripened
It should be husked, most, as nearly
as possible, Of the husks taken of and
also the silks and stored in . crib 81
Is not to become damp and spoil.
Corn Is very good feed for preparing
cattle for market or for milking cows
making very rich milk and Is also
mod for hOrnoA in WintAr.