The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-04-01
Double the Corn Crop.
With Climatic Conditions and
Soil Favorable the South S
Production Of Corn, Both as
to Extent of Acreage and
Acre Yield, Should be
Doubled Suggestions as to
How it Can be Done.
The Cotton J Ournal.

The Cotton Journal.
To 'lnnblr a crop none wear -Ou"ds
Ike. n pretty BIZ prop 'siti"n. U"d"r
certain cOnd lions haf might he i'm
y ssjhle. Wrr.. our rOudTtinnS and
urthnds OF treating the all lmpor-
tant and valuable corn crop III the
South to r"mair a. hp'e' OF re there
vDuld b. no u-e of prep ,ring this
art i,.a. If tn. read r j. thOrOu hi
ST in his WAYS aud determined TO
follow them reg ,rdlp-s of where they
will bead or at what cost. it may not
plv to rnaIs this. However, pro
rr"ssive farmers. the kind th It will
make the South what il should be,
INV ret something from it.
Th' South stands low in corn pro-
durtion, both as to extent Of acreage
and acre Weld. 1t should stand high,
climate is favorable, proper manage
ment of soils will make them suitable,
attention TO seed will give snita bla
varieties and types, cultivation will
do the rest
! While the average acre yield il low,
there are cases ON record in sufficient
number to demonstrate the pOssibili-
ties of the corn crop in the South.
There are certain things necessary.
though, in making a crop. When
these are secured all will be well on
the corn farm.
Essentials in corn production are
climate, soil, seed and cultivation
OF these climate is fixed. nan cannot
change it. However. that of the
South does not need changing in
order to suit corn The OF her fea tures
are TO a very great extent within
mans control.
A good corn soil should contain
lots of humus. it must have Il suffic-
lent depth TO afford roots space
from which they may feed and draw
moisture The soil must he reason
ably fine and we'll pulverizeI. 1t
must contain an abundance of avail
able plant food. If these requisites
in part or in whole are lacking they
must be secured before a record
brearing crop can he hoped for. but
If they exist to small degree. paying
crops may be counted upon. Break
the soil at least eight inches deep
but be careful not to turn up much
raw or unweathernd clay at this time
in the year. Use the harrow freely
| All clOds should be pulverized and
the surface four inches should be fine
and loose. Apply barn yard OF
stable manure on the surface imme-
dintely after blowing. II eight loads
or more are to be used to the acre
cut this in with the disc harrow set
to run three or four inches deep. The
manure so placed will give much bet
ter results than if spread on the
ground before plOwinr and then
turned under If a smaller applica-
tion is to be used (eight loads or less
per acre) the better returns may be
counted upon the first year by spread
ing in the row before planting. The
! main point il a we'll broken soil to a
depth OF not less than eight inches
with four inches of the surface iutO
which the manure ia mixed and
| thoroughly incorporated Ii n large
crop j. being worked fornn extra ap
plicatiOn of 1O-5 acid-pntash pei
acre may be made broadcast before
| narrowing and then worked in. Ad
ditional applications NAV be made
later on If the condition of the rroI
seems to demand. 1t may not b.
adviSi ble to use much If any nitrogen
prior to or at planting time, but il
may he needed later.
We are now up to planting time
and as yet we have not written {
word in regard TO the Williamson Ol
any other special plan. and it is not
the object Of this paper to do 40
The plan We want to sea followed i!
he one that undrr envirO ments q
the individual farmer will give hin
the biggest WELD ut the lowest eos
per hushel. II the WilliamSO met hoe
will do that. then follow it. Ii som,
other fills your crib at lowest cost
then follow that. But whatever yOr
do this year, fill Your corn crib at ii.
low cost rs possible.
After the soil is prepared th'
farmer looks for the seed corn. Thi.
ought to have been attended t.
months ago. The seed should hav
been selected last fall before the
main crop was gathered. The hex
best plan now is to take plenty Il
time aud secure good ears OF II gOOC
variety. A variety raised under
v0ur own soil and climatic condi
tiuns should bp given the preference
provided of course that it has giver
| good results. As n general propO-i
rinn u medium sizAd to small stake
prolific variety will give better yield:
of grain and nearly rs much fodder
a. the larger stalked single-eared va
rietieS
After the variety to be grown is de
termined, reject all exceptionally
large and small ears, selecting onl.,
those of medium or little abov'
medium in size. and slightly taperins
from butt to tip. with smooth. even
straight. uniformly filled rows, Will
butts and tips we'll covered witt
good, we'll developed kernels, medium
sized cob with fairly large and squar
kernels are to be desired. However
these latter characters may and dt
vary according to the variety ant
strain. Test the seed for g-rmina
tion.
Corn planting should not be dom
until the soil is we'll prepared and il
good condition rs to moisture ant
temperature. One day with one man
A. Il n Er;+@s nnaoptn y Y writes