The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-06-19

grow. This method of planting Is cS
pecia|ly well adapted to deep soils
where dry weather is likely to prevail
during the middle or latter part Of the
growing season. The lister fuIiills the
requirements of this method
The lister Is used for planting fields
that have been thoroughly plowcd and
also for planting directly In last years
corniield or stubble field without previ-
Gus preparation. This latter practice.
however. il not recommended for shal
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 it profitable to use
two row markers set tho same width
as their checkrowers.
A proper number of stalks evenly
distributed constitute the hest stand
for the production Of ear corn If
planted thicker than this the weight of
stover increases and the production
of good ears decreases. II 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 n particular
soil should be decided upon and the
planter adjusted to plant accurately
and regularly. Spots missed by the
planter. as we'll 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 germinates poorly ii
should not be planted, for. although a
stand may be 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 termination Of 81 per cent or more
in a thorough termination test and it
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
be preferable to replanting the missing
hills and will be more easily accom-
pliShed. If field has been drilled in but
one direction and for any reason poor
stand is obtained 1t can be replanted
with 4 checkrower set to drop one
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 as
to plant just as 1t crosses each row
For this purpose two men will be re-
quired. one to drive and one to trip the
checkrower us it 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 aud OF
dark green color.
Horse weeders and harrows should
be used when needed to break sur
face crust. check insect depredations
or kill young weeds that start before
the corn is 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 hut very little
should be used. and tenders are usual
ly found desirable to prevent the GOV
ering Of the plants.
Many comparative experiments ol
deep and shallow cultivation have beer
made, and. OH the whole. the results
are in favor of shallow cultivation II
excessive rains have packed the sol
and kept it water soaked deep cultiva
ton will help to dry and aerate the
SOIL Breaking the roots of the plants
must he avoided so far as possible
| After the plants have reached heigh
Of two or three feet the soil even ir
the middle Of the rows should not b.
| cultivated deeper than four inches. an(
usually a shallower cultivation vii
prove better For retaining soil mois
ture loose soil mulch two or thre,
inches in thickness is advisable
Corn should be cultivated oftel
enough to keep down weeds and t
maintain constantly loose soil mulcI
| till the corn has attained its growth
To this end greater number of cuI
tivations will be necessary when rain
at intervals Of about week cause th
surface soil to run together and crust
This crust must be broken and the sol
mulch restored or evaporation will soo
rob the soil of its moisture.
It is mistake to think that tn
longer the drought the more frequen
should be the cultivations After
fine mulch Of about three inches i
depth has been produced its frequen
stirring is not necessary. except In S
far as it Is required to keep weed
from starting Many crops are cy
short by stopping the cultivation. b,
canse the corn is too tall for use of
double cultivator without breakin
down the stalks. II the condition {
the soil demands It shallow Guilty.;
ton should continue. even though tt
.orn is tasseling.
1t is sometimes profitable to reno,
weeds by the costly process of han
lloeing and even at as late a date ;
the silking time of the corn.
With n good riding or walking doub
cultivator one man can cultivate :
many acres as two men with a OF
horse cultiyator.