The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-04-30
SUGGESTIONS ON CORN GROW
ING
Concluded from last week.
Time 10 Plant


Time TO Plant
Plant as soon as the ground Is
warm enough for prompt germina-
ton, and not before. Early planting
generally gives best results Aim u
finish by May 10th.
Local conditions, such as late sea
sons, rainfall, cold soils, or the pres
ence Of cover crop, sometimes de-
lay the time Of planting.
Method of Planting. The differ
ence in yield between planting in
checks or in the drill is slightly in
favor Of the latter, but generally,
the difference is not great enough
TO pay for the extra labor required
to destroy the weeds in the drill.
A good rule 10 follow: II the land
is fowl with weed seed, or labor is
scarce. check the corn; II the land
is clean, either method can be en-
ployed; II il is rolling land, drill
the corn, by all means.
Planting on the level is easiest
vind hest, except in wet, stiff
bottoms, where ridging is likely TO
prove most successful. On certain
loose, dry, sandy soils or late in a
dry spring, planting in a shovel
furrow gives good results.
Rate OF Planting. Yield is closely
related 10 the rate Of planting. II
NAHUM results are expected, plant
as thick as the land will bear. Gen.
orally thicker planting than is Gus
tomary will give greater yield.
Always plant enough corn to insure
a stand, as replanting seldom pays.
The rate Of planting depends upon
the fertility and preparation Of the
land. On good soils three stalks
per hill, in 3l5 foot checks, or "a
inches apart IN 81 foot rows, is
about the right thickness. On
average soils 2h stalks per hill, or
IL inches IN the drill. is advised
On poor soils such as should not be
planted To corn, thin rather than
heavy planting gives the best
yields. For maximum yields on
highly prepared and fortified soils,
1900 to $1,000 stalks per acre are
necessary.
Depth Of Planting. Plant only
deep enough 10 insure moisture for
good termination. Early in the
spring ON well prepared seed bed,
one inch is deep enough. Later,
two or three inches may be neces-
sary.
Cultivation. This should be shall
low. Ia conserve the moisture, liber-
ate plant food. kill weeds and allow
roots 10 grow in the rich top soil.
Narrowing corn a few days after
planting destroys weeds just sprout-
ing, and allows the first cultivation
10 be delayed few days. After the
corn is up, cultivate with a smooth
ing harrow or a weeder at least once.
This can be done until the corn is
six Ia eight inches high. The first
cultivation other than the above
may be deep. but before the corn is
six inches high. All other cultiva-
tions should be shallow - not over
two inches deep unless after
hard, packing rain, when little
deeper cultivation is permissible il
the corn is not over ~ inches high.
Cultivation should be every eight
or ten days, or oftener if n crust is
formed, and should be continued
until the corn is five feet high.
In case Of dry weather, dust mulch
should be maintained until silking
time.
N Suckers. Suckering depends on
. the fertility OF the soil the amount
: Of water present, and the variety of
corn. Thicker planting tends TO re-
duce the number OF suckers. Ex-
periments show no advantage gained
by pulling the suckers; however,
seed stalks make better ears than
those made on suckers. II suckering
is done, do ii when the ground is
moist and before the corn is eight
inches high.
Harvesting. Pulling fodder should
never be practiced, because the
gathering is very hard and ex-
penslve; in damp weather il is
HlfIiRnli IN hn lIalA.