St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-05-09
THE CULTIVATION OF THE CORN
CROP.


Now as the corn In most neigh
borhoods is growing on nicely ana
(cultivation is badly needed in some
fields, wish to have something 70
say regarding the cultivation OF the
corn plant on the different types OF
soil in st. Tammany parish. We all
know that the yield of corn Is not
what it should be. We know we
could use much more corn to an ad-
vantage every year II we had It.
Why Is 1t that we do not produce
it. What is the cause Of the short
crop or low yield. These are the
questions that am going to try to
answer for you and experience OF
scientific farmers everywhere will
bear me out.
One great trouble in producing a
profitable crop on most st. Tammany
SOL ia the lack of vegetable matter.
The soil is too stiff and clammy. Al
ter each rain the surface Is hard and
compact which excludes the air ana
haaens the evaporation OF mos
ture. This Is the reason our corn
crop fires up 30 quickly during
little dry spell. The way to remedy
this is to plant cow peas every year
IN your corn at the last cultivation
and on the other land that is avail
able. After the corn has been mar
vested in the fall take two-norse
plow and turn under all stalks ano
vines that can be changed into veee-
table matter by next spring. Az the
same time keep the stables and LOT
full Of leaves and straw to be turned
INTO manure by the animals. Tne
leaves and straw take up the urn
which would be mostly lost without
the use Of something to take 1t up
and hold It. In the spring this ma
nure should be applied broadcast on
the thineet spots about IN the neld
in order to have the crop to grow
OF all over the field uniformly.
this system is followed for few
years the yield of corn can be IN
creased 100 per cent? and the iano
will not crust and run together any
more.
The next thing to remedy Is to
Keep the turning ploW out OF tne
corn. The plow was made TO preak
and with and not to cultivate 9
crop with. The turning plow not
only cuts the roots Of the corn
plant but turns them up to the sun
to parch and dry up. And the plow
piles the soil up too high around the
corn leaving the middles almost bare
Of ann soil. The soil all being
thrown up In q ridge increases the
surface and increases the evapora-
ton Of moisture during a summer
dry spell when the corn must have
plenty Of moisture to do It's best.
The turning plow causes the farm
ers of this parish to lose hun dreds OF
bushels of corn every year. why
not stop and think q minute? why
aot make an effort to save this and
a lot Of useless labor besida'! Get
a section harrow and as the corn Is
coming up run this harrow over the
and and break the crust and XIII
the weeds and grass. One man can
kill more grass and weeds In one
day With a section harrow titan hve
men with turning plows. and. at the
same line do 1t better. WIaen the
corn is about twelve inches nign
straddl the rows with Geo Wnlz
.pring tooth cultfvator with the MID
die toDth taken out and you Will
again clean the drill and mi'1dles AT
one furrow to the row wh:cit means
more labor saved and better work
lone. This can be followed with .
Planet Jr. cutivator ev cry ten or nj
teen da,ys. At the last cultivation
low peas broadcast, about three pecks
70 one bushel to the q re, and put
The swe cps on the Planet Jr cuiti-
yator q took and run through the
niddlea twice, which win clean the
corn an d cover the peas Ut twice TO
he row and at the same ume leave
4 little furrow to carry q surplus
water. A corn crop cul t1vated Dy
This - ethod will make 10 to ~
oushels more corn to the acre tnan
that q ,ltivated with the turn plow
and II It over to grow on the oed.
The q ct q lowered in m sktng the
crop. You can turn out mncn more
work sin q day. You build up your
land a nd enjoy the good wtFk Deins
lone.
The implements named will not
cost = lore than $50. and you w1li
,ay fm them in one year In the say.
nE q labor and Increasing the y'eid
II the crop. rurs