Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-11
EARLY Matur=
ity in Corn.
BY w. c. Palmer, North Dakota
Agricultural College.
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Early maturity is one of the impor.
tant things in orn growing in North
Dakota. While the season is short, as
compared with that in the so called
corn belt, vet the days are longer, the
sunshine little obscured by clouds, so
that the conditions are quite favorable
the rapid growth of corn for from
100 to 120 days. This is long enough
to produce splendid corn. However,
the success will depend a good deal
upon bringing about the conditions
that the corn plant requires for max
ing a rapid growth. These are: First,
variety of seed; second, where grown;
third, how selected; fourth, how cured;
fifth, when planted; sixth, how cult
waited.
A variety of corr that is used to
making its growth in a short season
Will OF course retain that popularity to
a certain extent, although 1t can be
changed either making it earlier or
later.
WHERE CROWN. An early ma
turing variety if grown in the South
will require a longer time to nature;
consequently then the matter of va
riety alone is not sufficient to assure
one of having an early maturing corn.
Northwestern dent, for instance, grown
In Kansas or Nebraska for two or three
years, will not ripen as early as Min
npSOt9 1S anrr in NNr%h Do1yo&o o.
several years. Otherwise the North
western dent, if grown in the state, is
early maturing. This is one of the
most important points in North Da-
kota corn growing. Secure seed that
is grown in the locality in which it is
to be planted. Getting it from far
Their South is quite sure to mean late
maturity and danger of being caught
by frost.
HOW SELECTED. The seen corn
should be selected in the field. This
should be done at about the time that
the first frost can be expected. Those
ears a be selected that are matured
at that time. 1t is also important to
keep in mind the kind of a stalk that
the ear grows on. It should carry the
ear high enough so that the corr can
be conveniently cut with the corn
binder and the shanks should also be
short, otherwise the ears will be cas-
lily knocked off in the handling and
especially with the corn binder.
HOW CURED. This will determine
the viability of the seed. Corn if al
lowed to freeze before it is perfectly
dry will not grow, or if it should grow
the germ will be very weak so that it
will come up slowly, be spindling ana
will not do much. The corn that has
been thoroughly dry before freezing
will have a strong germ, will make a
rapid start in the spring and will
make a rapid growth through the
summer. Where a few bushels only
are to be cured, the house will be the
best place-an attic or some room
that has a little heat in it and that is
we'll ventilated will be a good place.
The attic eve the kitchen will some
times answer this purpose. The barn
and the granary will not do as there
is too much dampness there for the
corn to dry.
WHEN PLANTED. Early planting
is another point. Seed corn that is
Northern grown and that has been
we'll cured will not suffer much from
being frozen back nee or twice. Most
seasons there will be no frost to hurt
the corn, if it is planted from the 18th
to the Goth of May. This early plant
ing gives it the advantage of a few
days in the spring.
HOW CULTIVATED. The corn
plant makes it's growth in the soil
turned with the pillow. If the cultiva-
til is deep most of the feeding roots
will be cut off. This will necessitate
the growing of new roots, which takes
time, and the plants will never do as
we'll as if these had not been dis
turbed; consequently then the cult
walton should be shallow.
If these points are kept in mind in
growing corr and put into practice,