Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-03-01
Mr.. WILLIAMSON GIVES HIS
PLANS FOR GROWING CORN
The Originator of the Williamson Plan of Growing
Corn Tells of the Details in the Southern Culvator
The Farmers Should Read and Preserve
Profted by Success Of Others

furrow with one round of same mar
row plow, or, if land is cold or low,
larger plow may be used, making
a higher and broader ridge. Plant
in this ridge twice as thick as corn
is to be left, one grain in a hill, and
cover shallow, not over an inch and
quarter deep, if early.
Plant as early as your seasons
and the nature of your land will
permit and only when the soil is in
good condition. Apply all fertil-
izer later as directed.
1t will make the corn easier to
work if a wide shovel is run deep In
center of middle (or bed) when corn
/ is planted, and it will also keep
much water from running down on
corn.
Throw two burrows with turn
plow on this shovel furrow when
convenient, and two more just be-
fore second working. This will
make the second working easier,
and also clean the middles; which
may be worked over again, if nec-
essary.
When your corn first needs work,
run on both sides with harrow or
small plow; when it is about eight
inches high, give second working
by running around it on both sides,
if on sandy land, with lo-inch
scrape, or sweep, set on point, and
| ii on stiff land use shovel. Thin
low.
Leave these burrows open and do
not work corn again until it is so
stunted as to prevent its ever grow
ing larger than is necessary to make
what corn the land is able to pro-
duce. This does not mean that corn
should be left there to die, or even
neglected, but that it should be
compelled to use its energy in ear
making, and not allowed to waste
in stalkmaking. On poor or cold
land from ten to twelve days may
be enough, while rich soil may take
twice as long. When you think
that it has stood long enough, ap-
ply one-half of mixed fertilizer in
the open burrows next to corn, of
every other middle, and cover by
breaking out this middle with turn
plow. And side the corn at once
in this middle with 16-inch scrape,
pushing dirt around it, and cover
ing any grass that turn plow has
left. Corn should now be about
knee high.
Within a week give other middle
same treatment then go back to first
middle as soon as possible, and sow
half of nitrate of soda in scrape fur
rows next corn, and cover as fast as
sown with one round of turn plow-
shallow. Then SOW peas broadcast
in this middle at rate of a bushel
per acre, unless very scarce, when
they may be dropped, and cover by
breaking out middle shallow.
A few days later treat other mid
die same way, which lays by corn
on slight bed with dirt around the
feed roots, before hardly punching
for tassel. Lay by early, for more
corn is ruined by late plowing than
by lack of blowing. No hoeing
should be necessary, and thinning is
easier with one stalk in hill. Rub
corn with coal tar if birds or chick
ems are bad.
On sandy soils I wou Id use for
25-4o bushel yield 100 pounds of
acid phosphate, 100 pounds cotton
seed meal and 200 pounds kainit per
acre, mixed, and rs pounds nitrate
of soda at last plowing, leaving corn
1920 inches in drill, rows 6 feet
apart. For-6O bushel yield would
double amount of mixed fertilizer,
and also use 125 pounds, nitrate of
soda, leaving corn 14-l6 inches In
drill, rows feet apart. Clay land
is said to require more prosphoric
acid and less potash; the fertilizing
not SO late nor the planting so ear
ly: but this 1 do not know of my
own experience.
Mix your own fertilizer-you will
then. know what you have, save
money, and learn what your land
really needs.
If you cannot grow peas, then
try velvet beans or iron peas, or
some nitrogen gathering crop which
will save your buying moe of this
expensive element next year than is
absolutely necessary.
The land in these wild e rows is not
wasted, for it gives better room to
cultivate, enables the plant to get
more sunshine and light, besides
raising the vegetable matter, which
is the very life of the soil-without
it land can never be made rich, no
matter how much commercial fer
tilizer is used, nor can this fertilizer
be made to pay on land lacking in
vegetable matter, however well cul-