Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-09-19


shallow rows are marked of. and in
them the corn is planted
The labor saved by the Use of plant
erS is 50 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 a stiff. heavy clay.
+ containing plenty of moisture at plant
ing time. one inch is sufficiently deep.
but if it is Il light, open. dry soil three
or four inches is Il satisfactory depth.
Fortify against dry weather by plant
ing the seed in furrow covering il
slightly, and then gradually cultivat-
/ Ing the furrow full of soil as the plants
J grow. This method of planting is es-
petially well adapted to deep soils
where dry weather is likely TO prevail
during the middle or latter part of the
growing season. The lister fuifils 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
corntield or stubble field without previ-
Gus preparation. This latter practice.
however, is not recommended for shah
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 profitabie 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
slower increases and the production
of good ears decreases If planted
thinner the weight of slower, 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 particular
| soil should be decided upon and the
planter adjusted to plant accurately
ana regularly. Spots missed by the
planter. as we'll as those depleted by
crows. insects. etc. greatly decrease
planting many times thicker than the
stand Of stalks desired is not good
one. If the seed terminates poorly 1t
should not be planted. for. although a
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 81 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
be preferable to replanting the missing
hills and will be more easily accom-
plished. II field has been drilled in hut
one direction and for any reason a poor
stand Is obtained 1t can be replanted
with 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 as it crosses the corn rows
The most successful corn growers
realize the Importance of thorough ear
" 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 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 but very little
should be used. and tenders are usual
iy 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. II
excessive rains have packed the soil
and kept it 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 a 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 shallower cultivation will
prove better. For retaining soil mois-
ture 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 loose soil mulch
till the corn has attained its growth
To this end greater number of cul.
dvations will be necessary when rains
at intervals of about 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.