Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1910-04-14
SOUTHERN FARM NOTES
THECoRN CROP.

ne great American grain tood 10
men and stock upon the farm is corn
Therefore the growing of an abundan
supply OF corn is one Of the essentials
of good farming,
The southern farmer should grow
enough corn for every possible neec
on the farm. The reasons for thil
are plain. 1t has been demonstrated
thoroughly that with proper prepare
ton and cultivation he can grow a.
much per acre as the farmer in the
best growing sections. At pre-
vailing prices it is cheaper to grow j
1 than to buy it, even with IL and IL
cent cotton. The best farming re.
quires systematic rotation OF crops or
all lands. Corn is a standard crop
and is especially valuable from the
fact that we not only get the corn
crop, but can grow with it heavy
|crop Of peas, which will give liberal
supply Of nitrogen and humus, two Of
the most valuable things in building
up soils.
Corn is a tropical plant, and all
other things being equal it should
thrive better in the Southern than in
the Northern States. This. however,
n is not the case. What is the reason?
The main cause is the lack Of suita-
Bile seed beds in the South.
Experiments have shown that. while
/ it sends many Of its roots 8 or 4 feet
Ideep, the corn plant places the great
of its feeding roots from 8 to IL
finches below the surface where the
soil is made loose enough by plowing
or by frost to permit it. The roots
Bend out in every direction an in
Unite number Of hairlike growths,
Which absorb moisture and food. On
bills properly prepared and in Sec
Ions of fair rainfall the feeding
kround for corn Is usually from 2 to IL
inches below the surface. This is
Strictly true in the great corn belt OF
he Northwest. In the South there
has Leen too much shallow blowing.
Breaking 3 or 4 inches is not deep
enouoh to make suitable feeding
lplace for corn roots; on average land
III furnishes neither sufficient food nor
Sufficient moisture for the plant to do
LIS best. The trouble with shallow
.seed bed is that it is too wet under
heavy rainfall and too dry in periods
drought. A tong advance will be
made toward increasing the average
eld 6vefold It the following suGGes-
Ions are carried out:
ID Make a deep bed, suited to
he requirements Of the corn plant.
(2) Fill this seed bed with veg
able matter and give it good drain
e.
(3) Use the best seed.
"a Practice intensive cultiva-
The disk plow. the adjustable Sec
harrow. and the weeder are val
bic aids in producing the corn crop.
THE COWPEA CROP.
The cowpea is a part OF the corn
oblem in the South, and the plan
enerally adopted Of broadcastinG
hlf busheI to a bushel Of seed to
be acre at the time Of the last work.
& Of the corn and cultivating it has
zen good results.
fhe corn should be gathered sas
" as practicable and the stock
ed in. Fortunate is the man who
tight fencing. so that the pigs, as
as the work stock and cattle, can
a chance at the eowpeas. On
Of the poorer lands the corn
may be made 6 feet apart and a
pf peanuts planted between them;
Hill add to the value Of the fall
Re when no cowpeas are plapted.
Jon as the crop Of cowpeas has
fairly well grazed. break deep,
the burrows on edge; harrow;
oats. vetch. wiRter barley. or
d turn this under IN the spring.