The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-04-19
CORN PLANTING
(By A. P. Spencer of the Agricultural
Experiment Station

(by A. L. OpSuCSI VI INC ASA4 90
Experiment Station
Many farmers plant more seed corn
per acre than they expect will grow,
because they know part of it will not
terminate, and look forward to thin
ming and replanting if necessary.
Seed corn of low termination will
not give an even stand. Hence the
vacant hills in many fields. 1t is
best to avoid planting moldy or weev-
il-eaten seed One can select for seed
heavy, well ripened ears of the type
that has best suited the locality. Then
the butts and tips are shelled off, and
only the grain from the middle of the
ears planted.
Ten per cent. of vacant hills will
lower the yield from two to five bush
els per acre. This applied to the
corn crop of the entire state may be
estimated at more than one million
bushels loss on the 1912 crop of corn.
Thorough Preparation Before Plant
ing
The seed should not be planted I'M
til the soil is well prepared. The en-
tire field should be broken deeply
and thoroughly worked. Much of the
hoeing and wedding can be avoided
by thorough cultivation before the
seed is planted. Some moisture will
be lost when it is most needed, and
there will be an uneven distribution
of the applied fertilizer if the soil is
not thoroughly prepared.
Distance for Planting
One cannot get the maximum yield
of corn from well prepared soil that
has been properly fortified, if the
rows are too far apart. The rows
should be set four feet apart, with
one stalk every II inches in the row.
This will give 1O,S90 plants per acre.
Planting five feet apart and Is inches
or more in the row, common prac-
tice, gives 1900, or fewer, plants per
acre. If the crop is frequently culti-
waited during its krowth, and the soil
well prepared as suggested above,
there will not be much likelihood of
firing" With more than so per cent.
more plants We may usually expect
yearly corresponding increase in
bushels of corn per acre.
Shallow Cultivation
Many bushels of corn are lost each
year by too deep cultivation during
the growing season. Every root cut
off by deep cultivator or pillow in
jures the plant The loss of multi
tudes of sfibrous roots at each of
three or four different plowings is
very injurious to the crop, and results
in lower yield.
Plant cowpeas or Begsarweed
When the crop of corn is about ma
tured cowpeas or beggarweed may be
pidutSu USlWSSh lhc 1OWS. lhOoC Oh .
soil-improving crops. They prevent
the soil from teaching, and add fer
tlity and humus to benefit the sue
ceeding crops, besides furnishing
good forage for live stock.
Seed Plot
There is usually shortage of seed
corn and consequently a demand for
it just at planting time. This often
neeessitates planting the best which
happens to be on hand, good or bad
Every farmer should prepare now
to grow his seed for next years crop
For this, one-half an acre or more of
the most fertile soil should be select
ed, some distance from the main crop.
Ii the seed plot is too close to the
main crop, cross-pollination will oc-
cur. and the seed may be no better
than good average seed from the
main crop, as pollen is often carried
twenty rods or more by the wind. Sc
cure the best available seed for this
plot from a reliable farmer or seeds
man: or if none suitable can be pur-
chased, select the best ears on hand
lone gallon of shelled corn will be
sufficient for half an acre. TO secure
a uniform type suitable to the soil
and locality.