The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-04-20

81 sou IS not available Their
the most fertile land bic shoulf
be selected and its deficiencies be
sought to be made good BY the hest
PREPARATION possible of the land be-
lore It is planted. By deep breaking
OF the land and the reduction of the
whole depth of the soil so broken
20 the finest state of filth possible, the
sleld OF the crop can be most large
~ increased as the power of he corn
crop TO forage for food in the soil
IS very great if only the soil is in
that line state of filth that the enor-
NOUS root system of this crop can
penetrate. To secure this condition
Of the soil it should be worked and
revoked With the dies and tooth har-
row and the roller as often as posi-
bic before being planted SO hat after
the crop is growing all that will be
needed liz the way Of cultivation is
such shallow working as shall SUI
flee to keep a dust mulch en- the sur
lace and prevent the growth of any
weeds or grass mt the shade of
the crop is sufficient to effect his
end. The much too common prac-
tice is merely blowing the land shall
low and giving it one of two harrow
ings can never result in anything but
a disappointment in the yield. Whilst
corn roots are great foragers for plant
food, they cannot get it out of clods
and hard, unbrOken soil. Every great
crop produced Of which we have any
record was grown on deeply plowed,
finely broken and and had almost
constant cultivation from the time it
was planted until it was impossible to
get through it any longer without
breaking down the talks
The second requisite we have insist
ed on-'carefully selected seed"-is
a matter which, until within the past
w or three years. has received little
and. as yet, has not half the
emit which its Importance de-
serves. In experiments made both in
this and other States. it has been de-
monstrated that a careful selection OF
seed adapted to the locality
cause q difference in the yield of
he crop Of from One-third to One-half
bushels to the acre. Surely
such q difference is Well worth Striv-
ing for. The old custom of just TAX
ng the seed corn at haphaZard from
the corn crib should be abandoned
at once and the seed be either bought
for a start on new lines from a care
full and scientific corn breeder or, ,
is better still. for the full crop
20 be planted q careful section Of
gathered in the field in the fall
rom stalks OF the type desired to be
oerpetuated and these only be planted
rom. Every farmer ought to have
1 seed patch in which he should grow
,nly from selected ears and these be
year further culled down and
'e-selected. In this way all barren
stalks can be soon eliminated from the
.rop and this alone will make q great
in the yield. Corn is a
.rop which is largely affected by local
and therefore 1t is never
wise to send far away for the seed
O plant a whole crop. To plant an
Experimental patch, this may ana
hould be done in order to breed up
tvpe suitable to the section it the
ype you are growing is not a satisfac-
sfactory one. There are now on the
narket types of corn OF the highest
Gliding capacity which have beer &C
limated to our section and these may. {
nth great advantage. be paved. 6
.mong these are Boone County White f
nd Cookies Prolific for fertile, low {
nd medium low lands, and Hickory j
for the uplands. These are |
-hite varieties. Amongst the yellow 3
a~rieties the best is Golden Dent. =
Whilst naming these, we do not wish
+, be understood that they are the
My good varieties on the market: IN a
mr. advertising columns Will be found s
ther varieties offered which are n
-orth Investigating. In planting De !,
areful to use a planter which VIII 8
,gularly drop the seed at the qulf q
! distance apart and, to secure this n
is essential that tn" seed be graded 0
J, as to be uniform in size or nearly a
or the best planter will fail to do $
6 work well. Do not plant too deep. "
rom two to three nche is the best. O
ut be careful in setting the planter Il
I'd running it to keep the depth Of a
anting uniform SO hat all the plants r
i'll come up at the. same time or Q
lerea bout. and be careful to run q
Ie planter straight SC that cultivation p
be easy. AS soon as planting IS e:
,mpleted. run q light harrow over q
% field to level all hills and depres- D