Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04
ESSAY ON CORN.
May 28, 1913.


May %, 1913.
Corn was originally grown in Am
erica by the Indians and it was from
them that the early settlers first
learned to raise it. 1t has since been
selected and bred up until it can be
grown in almost all localities in the
United States.
Dent cron is mostly grown now-a-
days. There are the red. white and
yellow varieties. The dent in the
kernel is caused by the soft starch
shrinking as it becomes day.
Small and medium sized corn is
grown in Minnesota as it natures
earlier than larger kinds. Minnesota
No. 13 being good variety for this
locality.
Flint corn is raised in the northern
parts on account of being very early.
The kernel has a bright, smooth
appearance. They are also very
hard.
Sweet corn is mostly used for can
ming purposes but also makes good
food for hogs.
The corn plant is composed of the
stalk. leaves, ears and tassel.
The stalk is tall and straight. The
outer rind is hard and smooth while
the inner structure is soft substance
or plth; plant food is carried thru the
outer rind to all parts of the plant.
The leaves are long and slender and
are quite numerous. Ears grow
slightly below the middle of the stalk.
There are several thicknesses of
husk, inside of which is the cob with
several rows of kernels on. Each
kernel has three parts, the outer
coat, the germ and the food part.
The outer coat protects the germ
from heat. cold and moisture.
The food part is used in giving the
germ strength when it sprouts.
Common field corn has more uses
]. than any other farm crop grown.
TIE cereal is used in making corn
. meal, grits. hominy, corn starch,
corn oil and stock food. 1t is also
} used for fattening all kinds of animals
: and they like it better than other
grains. The cob can be used for fue
or making pipes for smoking. Othel
parts of the plant may be used al
cattle and poultry food, making corr
! syrup, mattresses, mats. etc. YOUNG
: ears are also used as human food.
On most farms corn is merely useC
: as food for cattle and other live stock
One of the best methods is to cut j
up in an ensilage cutter and put j
: into silo. 1t there retains its feed
ing value and can be fed as needed. Il
this farm it is the best and cheapes
# food available for feeding dairy cat
e tie, calves. etc., as they eat almos
It all of it. Another good way is to Gu
e the corn when the ears are ripe,
is should then be shocked and huske
e at convenience. The stover ca
al be fed to stock and ears put in cor
crib. If wanted for fodder cor
m only. corn should be drilled in LAT
le and cut before frost. 1t is then shocke
and may be stacked when dry.
8. In crop rotation, corn should folio
RS clover. The sod should be plowed
a. the fall, double disked early in til
d. spring narrowed occasionally and agai
st disked, and narrowed at plantir
time, about May 10th. 1t should /
ne planted with check planter and we
\. cultivated or narrowed before vi
8. While still small, corn may be Gu
nd tivated deeply (if weedy) but shallo
be cultivation is good preserving moi
to ture and at the same time killir
to weeds. Cultivation should be kel
lie up until danger of breaking stalk
nd If no clover is raised, stubble shou
lis BIB manured and pIowed in the fall al
ne worked same in spring as clover so
fe Ears of uniform size shape, fro
ed good stalk should be selected for SCI
before frost, this to be stored in d
re we'll ventilated place until sprin
e, Individual ear test should then
r, made and those testing below 80 p
#. cent termination, discarded.
= RELATION.
e- The growing of corn promotes Ii
stock raising and dairying which mea
at more fertile land and large crops.
o. also does away with summer falo'
ing. 1t conserves moisture, XII