The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-05-04
PLANTING CORN.
BY Q. M. Olson, Extension Di-
vision, Minnesota University
Farm.
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True economy in the growing of
corn can only be accomplished by
methods which shall make each acre
produce as great a yield as possible
and still be practical from the stand
point of the labor involved. Any in
crease in the yield per acre, unlesstat-
tanned at the expense of an undue
amount of labor. reduces the cost of
producing each individual bushel, al
though it may slightly add to the to-
tai cost of production per acre.
Aside from the fertility of the soil
and the climatic conditions of the sea-
son, the farmer is master of the fac
tors that enter into good yield of
corn. He can select an adaptable va
riety, and one known to be a good
yielder; and, with little time devoted
to testing and grading the seed pre-
vious to planting, he will be able to
weed cut the seed that is weai. in
termination and irregular IL shape, all
of which will tend toward giving an
uneven stand. Weak and sickly stalks,
and missing hills, cannot be cultivated
with profit in any cornfield, and the
time to avoid them is before they are
planted
Likewise much of the cultivation of
the corn crop should lie in the prepare
ton of the seed-bed before it is plant
ed. Every stirring of the seed-bed
previous to planting, no matter wheth-
er it is with the harrow, disc or Guilt
vator, is cultivation Of the crop that
is to follow; and, when rightly per-
formed, it conserves soil-moisture,
liberates plant food, destroys weeds,
warns the soil, and in general makes
better preparation for the growth Of
seed when planted. It is far better
to delay planting several days than to
put the seed in poorly-prepared
seed-bed.t In fact, one of the most
common errors in the growing of corn
is in being in too big a hurry to get
the seed into the ground
The seed-bed for corn should not be
too compact; and still the furrow slice
should be firmly united with the sub
soil, in order that there may be free
movement<of the soil-moisture when
ever needed. The surface should be
free from ridges and clods, and sufsi-
GENTLY mellow, so that the soil-mo:s
ture will rise close to the surface
Corn should seldom be planted deeper
than two inches, and more often there
should be such an amount of soil
moisture near the surface that shall
lower depth will suffice.
In regard to the planting operation
itself, no universally applicable sta
ment can be made as to the number of
kernels per hill, the space between
the rows. nor the distance apart in
the row. It is safe to assume, how
ever, that three good stalks per hilfl
is good stand, that forty-four> inches
between rows is space enough, and
that planting in the check system
makes 1t easier to keep. the ground
clean
Before commencing to plant, the
corn-pianter should be looked over TO |
see that all parts are properly ad-
justed and work readily. The planter
plates should be tried with the seed
that is to be used and those giving
The desired drop selected A steady.
moderate-walking team should be Sc /
Iected to use in the planting, and 4 |
man to drive who knows how to oper-
ate the machine and who takes pride
n his work. Crooked rows, like miss
ng hills, cast a Encouragement upon
al subsequent care of the crop.