Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-06-05

ihN iubOA poNCu Ny thC uoC VI pi"hs
ers Is so great that for profitable corn
growing their use is Indispensable.
Every spring the planter should be
thoroughly tested and adjusted.
The proper depth to plant must be
governed by the quality and moisture
Of the soil. If 1t Is stiff, heavy clay,
containing plenty of moisture at plant
ing time, one inch is sufficiently deep,
but If 1t is a light, open, dry soil three
or four inches Is satisfactory depth.
Fortlfy against dry weather by plant
ing the seed in furrow, covering 1t
slightly, and then gradually cultiyat-
ing the furrow full of soil as the plants
grow. This method Of planting is es-
pecially well adapted to deep soils
where dry weather is likely to prevail
during the middle or latter part of the
i growing season. The lister fulfills the
requirements Of this method.
The lister is used for planting fields
that have been thoroughly plowed and
also for planting directly in last years
cornfield or stubble field without previ-
GUS preparation. This latter practice,
however, is not recommended for shall
low or stiff clay soils.
| Perhaps more corn Is now planted by
means Of check rover than by any
other device. Some successful growers
of corn have found 1t profitable to use
two row markers set the same width
as their checkrowers.
A proper number Of stalks evenly
distributed constitute the best stand
for the production Of ear corn. If
planted thicker than this the weight Of
stover Increases and the production
of good ears decreases. If planted
thinner the weight Of stover, as we'll as
Of ears, decreases. Small growing va
rieties should be planted thicker than
varieties producing tall stalks. The
distance for planting In a particular
soil should be decided upon and the
planter adjusted to plant accurately
and regularly. Spots missed by the
planter, as well as those depleted by
crows, insects, etc., greatly decrease
the yield per acre. The custom of
planting many times thicker than the
stand of stalks desired is not a good
one. If the seed terminates poorly II
should not be planted, for, although q
stand may be obtained by very thick
planting, the stalks will not be thrifty
and a reduced yield will result from
using the poor seed. If the seed shows
a termination Of OF per cent or more
in thorough termination test and II
Is then properly planted the stand will
be almost perfect unless very adverse
weather ensues, In which case all the
\ plants will be so injured that The
planting Of the entire field again will
i be preferable to replanting the missing
hills and will be more easily accom-
plished. II field has been drilled In bu
one direction and for any reason a poo
stand is obtained 1t can be replantet
with checkrower set to drop ont
kernel at time and operated without
the tripping chain. The checkrower Is
driven at right angles to the rows Of
the first planting and is operated so a.
to plant just as 1t crosses each row
For this purpose two men will be re
quired, one to drive and one to trip tn,
checkrower as 1t crosses the corn rows
The most successful corn growers
realize the Importance of thorough ear
ly cultivation, thus preventing any
check In the growth Of the plants be
cause of weeds or crusted SOIL Thrifty
corn plants are thick, strong and O.
dark green color.
Horse weeders and harrows -shoult
be used when needed to break sur
face crust, check insect depreciation
or kill young weeds that start befor,
the corn is up or large enough to b,
worked with other implements. Dur
Ing the first cultivation, or while tn,
plants are very small, narrow shovel
that throw the soil but very llttl
should be used, and tenders are usual
ly found desirable to prevent the GOV
ering of the plants.
Many comparative experiments o
deep>and shallow cultivation have bee
, made, and, on the whole, the result
are in favor of shallow cultivation. ]
, excessive rains have packed the so
and kept 1t water soaked deep cultlvG
ton will help to dry and aerate tn
, soil. Breaking the roots of the plant
, must be avoided so far as possibl,
, After the plants have reached helgl
= Of two or three feet the soil even I
, the middle of the rows should not b
= cultivated deeper than four inches, an
) usually a shallower cultivation wi
= prove better. For retaining soil mol
: turc a loose soil mulch two or thre
. inches In thickness Is advisable.
: Corn should be cultivated ofte
4 enough to keep down weeds and |
a maintain constantly loose soil mule
' till the corn has attained Its growtl
a To this end a greater number of Gu
@ tivations will be necessary when rail-
= at intervals of about week cause IL
Q surface soil to run together and crus
This crust must be broken and the so
8 mulch restored or evaporation will SOC
J, rob the soil of Its moisture.
|, IT is mistake to think that Il
:, longer the drought the more frequel
Q should be the civilizations. After
It fine mulch Of about three inches
depth has been produced its freQue
g stirring is not necessary, except In
g far as II is required to keep wee,
Z from starting. Many crops are C
o short by stopping the cultivation,
Is cause the corn is too tall for use Of
e. double cultlvator without breakl
II down the stalks. II the condition
d the soil demands It shallow Guilty.
" lion should continue, even though [
IS corn is tnssellng.
,r 1t is sometimes profitable to reno
ct weeds by the costly process of ha,
le hoeing and even at as late date
y the silklng time OF the corn.
v. With good riding or walking doul