The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-05-29

D
shallow rows are marked OF. and IN
them the corn Is planted.
The labor saved by the use OF plant
ers Ii 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. II II Is a stiff. heavy clay.
containing plenty OF moisture at plant.
Ing time. one inch II sufficiently deep,
but II Il 10 a light. open. dry soil three
or four inches Is n satisfactory depth.
Fortify against dry weather by plant.
Ing the seed In a furrow, covering II
slightly. and then gradually cultivat.
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
growing season. The lister fulnlls the
requirements Of this method.
The lister Is used for planting fields
that have been thoroughly plcwed 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 In now planted by
means OF check rover than by any
other device. Some successful growers
OF corn have found II 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. II
planted thicker than this the weight OF
stover Increases and the production
OF good ears decreases IL planted
thinner the weight OF stover. as well as
Of ears, decreases. Small growing va
rieues 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 20 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. II the seed terminates poorly Il
should not be planted. for. although a
stand may he obtained by very thick
planting. the stalks will not be thrifty,
and reduced yield will result from
using the poor seed. II the seed shows
a germinntion 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. I'm which case all the
plants will be so injured that the
planting Of the entire field again will
be preferable TO replanting the missing
hills and will be more easily accom-
plished. liza field has been drilled in but
one direction and for any reason poor
stand Is obtained II can be replanted
with a checktower set TO drop one
kernel at time and operated without
the tripping chain. The cbeckrower Is
driven at right angles to the rows OF
the FIRST planting and IL operated so as
20 plant Just as II crosses each row.
For this purpose two men will be re-
quired. one 10 drive and one to trip the
checkrower N II 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 OF
dark green color
Horse weeders and harrows should
be used when needed TO break a sur
face crust check insect depreda lions
or kill young weeds that start before
the corn IA up or large enough to be
worked with other implements. Dur
ing the first cultivation, or while the
plants are very small. narrow shovels
that throw the soil but very little
should be used and tenders are usual
ly found desirable to prevent the COW
ering Of the plants.
Many comparative experiments of
deep and shallow cultivation have been
made, and. on the whole. the results
are In favor OF shallow cultivation. IL
excessive rains have packed the soil
and kept II water soaked deep cultiva.
ton will help TO dry and aerate the
soil Breaking the roots of the plants
must be avoided so far as possible
After the plants have reached height
OF two or three feet the soil even in
the middle OF the rows should not be
cultivated deeper than four inches, and
usually q shalIower cultivation will
prove better. For retaining soil mois-
ture a loose soil mulch two or three
inches In thickness Is advisable.
Corn should be cultivated often
enough to keep down weeds and to
maintain constantly a loose soil mulch
till the corn has attained its growth.
To this end a greater number Of cul-
tivations will be necessary when rains
at intervals Of about a week cause the
surface soil to run together and crust
This crust must be broken and the soil
mulch restored or evaporation will soon
rob the soil Of It's moisture.
II Is q mistake to think that the
longer the drought the more frequent
should be the CIVILIZATIONS After q
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