Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-26
What l Have Learned About Corn and
Growing Corn.

oTowiHS Soth.
Indian Corn or Maize Is the only inn
pOrtant cereal that Is a native of this
continent and is now the most i'm
portant product Of this country.
The demand for this product is ever
increasing, and while the region in
which it can successfully be raised is
limited. it seems evident that the
time is not far distant when it will be
necessary to greatly increase the pro-
ductive capacity Of the corn belt.
In order to increase the productive
ness of corn it is absolutely necessary
for the producer to have a definite
knowledge Of the nature and pecul-
iarities of this cereal. There are three
absolute necessities for the successful
production Of corn. good seed, rich
and we'll drained soil and thorough
cultivation.
The seed should be tested before
planting. This can be done by taking
a few kernels Off Of each ear and plant
ing them between two layers of moist
.saw1ust, wrapped in cheese cloJh and
kept in a warm place. In this manner
the s%prouting can be watched and the
fertility noted. This plan is much
better than planting in soil and count
ing the sprouts for the following
reaSOns
Most farmers take 100 ears and l
kernel from each ear then planting
them in soil watch for the sprouts.
perhaps 40 come up in 3 days, 30 in 4
days and 50 in a week. This they call
a 90 per cent test. But l kernel is not
sufficient from each ear and also it
stands to reason that the 40 that came
up in 3 days are stronger than those
that came up in a week and would
undoubtedly be matured and out OF
danger Of frost long before the rest.
BY using the sawdust plan these 40
ears could be picked out and planted
thus taking only the strong ears.
More than l kernel should be taken
from each ear as an ear may have
fertile kernels on one place and weak
or worthless kernels on another.
After testing the next thing 5
picking out a good field. This field
should be we'll drained and the land
should be we'll prepared by ploughing
and narrowing.
1t is mostly planted in hills about "A
inches apart thus allowing easy cult.
walton. The hills should contain
about three stalks as more will cause
| the ears to become Stunted.
The next thing is the cultivation.
This is for two purposes. G) To des-
troy weeds. ~ To destroy injurious
insects. Fertilizing the field is also
a part of the cultivation. This is
generally done by applying manur
restored by planting clover. The
corn should be cultivated as long as
possible for the purpose of keeping
down the weeds and giving the stalks
a good start.
The most injurious Of the insects
are the corn lice, cut worm and the
corn root worm. Corn lice are insects
that seem to take the vitality out of
the corn and prevent it's proper pollen
izing, while cut worms cut the stalks
of just after they come up. Spring
blowing lessons the danger Of both of
these. The corns root worm lives on
the corn rOot thus weakening the
plant. This insect is practically un-
known is this region but does a great
deal OF damage in the older states
where corn is grown year after year on
the same field. A rotation OF crops
practically eliminates all danger of
this insect.
Shortly after the corn tassels it be-
gins to silk, then the ears are pro-
duced. The pollen escapes from the
tassel and is caught by the silk thus
producing the kernels. Great care
should be taken in not having two
different kinds Of corn near together
as the pollen passes from one t 0
another and causes them to mix.
There are many different kinds of
corn raised in every locality according
to what it is intended for. While it's
value depends On the ears, it is also
raised for the stalk and this used for
feed.
In the last year this country raised
over two and a half billion bushels of
corn valued at a quarter billion dollars
which Is greater than the value Of any
two other products of this country for
the same year, and Ia times the value
OF the gold produced in this country.
This plainly shows that the prosperity
Of this country depends on the corr
crop.
We annually produce so per cent OF
the corn in the world, and while the
corn telt is but slowly increasing the
demand for corn is greatly increasing
SO the object of the future will be to
increase the productiveness of the
corn belt.
1t has been said that the greatest
b%enefactor OF the world would be one
who could make two blades Of grass
grow where n grew before. Then
surely one who produces two ears Of
corn where n grew before must
also be a great b%enefactor. But in
creasing the productiveness of corr
can not rest with one man, it rests