The new South-news., 1909-06-19

otructlve article on corn growing ioH
the hoyx In the corn clubs through
out Mississippi. but II is we'll worth
the time and attention OF the older
boys who are growing corn ~ we'll
Cut II out aud preserve for future
use.
ITO the boys who are In the corn
growing contests in the various coun-
ties OF Mississippi. would make the
following suggestions:
Corn growing Is not rule OF
thumb business. You cannot have
the best OF success from year TO year.
by following any set rule In prepar-
ing your soil and culti>ating your
crops nor by following the specific
directions Of any man. The corn
plant. as well as other plants. makes
certain requirements OF the soil in
the way OF moisture aud plant food
and the condition of the soil that
best furnishes these; also serves to
areato the soil and TO promote heal
thy growth OF bacteria or germs so
essential TO good crop production.
| The whole OF this can be very well
expressed in the phrase, good soil
\ texture"
"All that is necessary in prepar-
Ing the soil and making crop. is TO
keep the ueeds of the plant In mind
and to do the work necessary to pro-
duce the most satisfactory conditions
OF growth This may. one time be
done with a very moderate amount
cf work. vhila under different con-
ditions OF soil and season, great
amount o. work may be done on
piece Of land without getting II in
At condition to meet the require
ments OF the crop and a poor Yield
results.
The u,t'mate and greatest goo 10
We derived from. trc~c yield contests
Is. for yc. to become acQuai itsd
with the needs and requirements OF
the corn plant and to gain such .
knowledge OF soils and farm imple-
ments as to enable you to know
, best for certain soil In getting 1t In
condition and what implements are
8 best suited to the bringing OF this
about In the most practical and econo
: mic manner. Get the truth and
n know what and when TO DO rather
: than follow any set rules.
= 1T has been very truly said that
= corn crop well planted Is more
l. than half made, and since the crops
A of this year are all planted before
. this time, / will mention only few
d points that are OF importance to thu
Il latter or lesser half OF corn making
Water Required.
From the time corn comes up un
til the leaves are dead or cease per
o forming their functions as the lung
II and stomach OF the plant, grea
u amount Of water passes in throug
D. the roots and is exhalled or given on
Ie through the leaves. To grow on
)f pound OF dry matter in corn. abou
ie 800 pounds OF water are required; o
i- one good stalk with its ears weighin
q. one and one-half pounds would us
N $50 pounds Of water; more than
III full barrell. As the plants grow laI
re ger and their leaf surface increases
r. more water is required. During tn
few weeks following the first appeal
ance of the tassel. about half OF a
the water required by the plan
X must be available. You can readil
or see that the most important thing fo
OF the corn grower to keep in mind }
ty how he can supply all OF this wat'
a. as the plant needs 1t, especially In
. dry time.
is 1--WE cannot make 1t rain. but y
be can so cultivate the soil to mal
A what there is in 1t go as far as poss
ds BILE. In other words, be sure that II
water In the soil gets out by meal
of the roots and leaves Of the col
krather than through grass and wee'
"a or by evaporation from the hard su
n, face OF the ground.
all The soil In a corn field shou
on never be allowed TO crust and 9
n, hard during the growing period, +
ay that is the condition most favorab
at to the loss Of water be evaporatio
al OF keep the ground covered by la
es. er OF soil by culticating promptly q
he ter every packing rain.
Cultivate Shallow.
"A study OF corn has shown th
the roots are distributed from {
SuIIdCc VI Tue eiOunu wv" ~ o<
an eral feet in depth in favorable sol
ed This study has also showp that os
~ one-half OF the roots are bngregat
IRE from three to five inches below t
en- surface. This is the case in rich
nd poor soil and on deep or thin lar
Tcn This Information should he VOL
In something in suggesting the depth
ssd soil that is necessary for growi
good corn. certainly fve inches
more, as well a. indicating the b
preparation and depth to which 1t
the safe to cultivate. The roots take
ors the water used by the plant and te
nds ing them OF necessarily injures
aid corn.
out The cultivating impieme
Il should not be run 10 deep a. to
t,s~N, &Ats th{Nk NpAUfh Af m