The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-07-24
CULTIVATE THE CORN CROP
Need of Much Work on the Fields
This Season to Secure Best Results
Some Suggestions

experienced rather a backward season
up to the first of July. Cold weather
retarded its termination and lack of
rain during June checked its growth.
True Maine is not a great corn state
but every one in six farmers reported
to the census takers in 1903 as grow
| ing ii to some extent. To them and
those particularly who grow corn for
the canning factories such seasons as
this bring out the necessity of thor
ough cultivation and dust mulehing
to retain the moisture necessary.
On the University of Maine farm
where some 81 acres were planted to
New England grown seed-Canadian
Flint, Dent corn from the station
farm at Highmoor and ensilage dent
Prof. George E. Simmons Of the Agro-
nomy department, believes in harrow
ing the fields before the seed is up
and even after 1t appears.
When the corn is high enough to he
seen readily in rows-that is, ABOUT
two to four inches-it should receive
its first cultivation with the row Guilt
vator, as all experts agree The type
of cultivator used at the University
is the eight shovel sulky. The first
cultivation should be deep and the
shovels should be run as close to the
corn plants as can be with convent
ence. Shields to prevent covering
the corn must be used. At this time
the roots of the corn plant have not
been extended any great length-at
least not enough to be injured by the
shovels of the cultivator.
The North Dakota Experiment Sta
ton found that 80 days after plant
ing, when the corn was not yet knee
high, the roots of rows three feet
eight inches apart had already inter
laced. Furthermore they found that
the corh plant had very extensive
root system. After the corn was ma
ture the ground was filled with fine
network of fibrous roots for radius
of from three to three and half feet
| from the plants. Corn must have
large feeding system and the crop
should be cultivated SO as to con-
serve moisture and still not injure the
roots
During the first 80 days growth
most of the roots can be found in the
first eight inches of soil and most OF
the main roots within three to four
inches of the surface. 1t can readily
be seen what would result from deep
cultivation The important roots
the very life basis of the corn plant
would be broken and destroyed by the
shovels. This Is just what happens
when deep cultivation is practiced
after the first cultivation, at which
time the roots have not developed suf-
| fciently to encroach upon the area
| between the rows.
Shallow cultivation--two to three
inches, or just deep enough to kill the
weeds and produce loose mulch--is
most satisfactory. Experimental work
has proved the ACCESSIBILITY of shall
low cultivation. Sixty-one tests OF
deep cultivation at 10 stations gave
an average yield of 65 bushels an acre
with deep cultivation in comparison
with rs bushels an acre where shall
low cultivation was practiced.
The number of times corn should be
cultivated will depend upon condi-
tons. If the soil is very weedy more
frequent cultivation is generally nee
essary. Weather conditions are also
determining factor After rains
soils generally bake and crust. In
this condition the loss of soil mois-
ture through evaporation and capil-
larry action is most rapid, and the
cultivators should be set to work i'm
mediately to maintain the much need
ed mulch.
I
tions are given-the last generally be-
fore the tassels appear; after this the
corn is too tall for cultivation with
a sulky Some farmers, in spite OF
numerous other duties, stir UP the
soil late in the season with a one
horse, fine-toothed cultivator, thus
giving the corn a greater supply OF
moisture when it needs it most-that
is, while the ears are being formed.
The farmer who can appreciate the
principles underlying good corn cult
walton, who knows of the corn-rooI
system, of soil-moisture movements
and of soil mulches, will not only
secure a larger crop and greater pro-
fits, but the pleasure which comes
| from applying his information in q
practical way makes the farm worid
of interest to him.
Maine, by the way, has had for the
past four or five years from 10000 tt
$4,000 acres in corn. According to the
National Department of Agriculture
we produced $4,000 bushels in 1912
1872 900 in 1911, $4,000 in 1910, and by
the census figures of 1909, $40 900 bu'
shells. There should be more of II
grown in the State in the opinion Of