The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1910-02-17

but possibly we can clear the way
by asking one question. Why do we
cultivate corn2 We answer, for two
purposes. with the ultimate result
that we assist nature In her functions
First: to destroy weeds. Second; 20
subverge. or hold moisture. This Is
all we can do and the most logical
way Is the way that should appeal TO
US. Nature acts along scientific lines
She never attempts anything and fail
all Kings being equal. among the
many things she does not attempt is
TO germinate annual weed seeds
three inches below the surface OF the
soil. although they are there, yet
they Will not terminate until they
are turned to the surface. or brought
In To the Zone OF Termination"
which Is the surface three inches.
This zone then. II what we have
10 do with and Is that which claims
our attention In the cultivation OF
our corn crop. by constant shallow
stirring We form q dust. or fine mulch
which serves as a blanket to hold the
moisture with which the earth has
been saturated during the winter and
early spring and which. through a
CHI, mical action by the acids II con
tains, makes phosphorus and potash
Ia the soil soluble so that the hair
like roots can take II up and nourish
thc stalk; as an example with which
TO illustrate: every farmer IL aware
the fact II board lying anywhere
about the premises Is removed. he
will find the ground where IL has
been. moist SO In removing a bunch
Of litter, or any compact matter.
The dust mulch that Ii formed by
shallow and continuous cultivation
serves the same purpose in the corn
field.
The little hair-like roots mention
ed above. are called capillary roots,
these are very near the surface and
reach out In all directions In search
OF plant food. Capilarity Is a pump
ing process and these rootlets pump
the water out OF the soil into the
plant To which they are attached. II
these roots are broken by deep plow-
ing. We are destroying the functions
OF nature and impairing the vitality
OF the stalk OF corn and the first pro-
longed drouth that occurs fires our
corn" the direct result OF root shear
ing. taking away the life giving prin-
ciple. or rather that which supplies
the plant with life.
We often flatter ourselves that we
have laid by our corn as clean as
a floor, and yet when corn gathering
time comes we find weeds as thick
as the hair on a dogs back, and as
high as the corn In many places. we
wonder. and keep wondering, why.
Does the reason ! shall give appeal
TO your judgement? II not. follow
the old practice. We have been In
the practice Of throwing a big ridge
up to the corn to keep II from blow
ing over should a storm come, also
10 make a bed for brace roots. Brace
r. OTIS always form at the surface,
whether a ridge is formed or not, II
you don't believe II try II. II you
had not been breaking roots all the
season. your corn would have a root
System as strong and perfect as the
forest oak comparatively. and you
would not need a ridge. But where
do the weeds come from? In formin
your indispensable 90 ridge you
lave got below the zone of gerrnina-
ton and brought up seeds that were
lying dormant. but as soon as they
got air light and heat they immediate
ly went 20 growing, with the result
that we are all familiar with. Level
cultivation also leaves the field In
fine condition for wheat. crimson
clover, or any cereal or grass and
legume that one wants to follow with.
Corn should be cultivated as long as
Il is green and growing, the stereo-
typed idea OF blowing three or four
times and then laying II by, died In
the Nineteenth century.