West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-07-29

an offer OF many times th,h wo.th
would not have induced him to part
with them. And I'm this he showed that
he was wise
But, proud as sam Powell was OF his
thoroughbreds. there was something
else TO which he was giving a lot OF
thought and work. That something
was the acre OF corn that was 10 com
pete for prizes offered to the Roys'
Corn club.
Miles Pagan bad promised his son.
Bob, that he might join the corn club
and enter an acre I'm the contest II he
would clear the land OF stumpS Bob
did join. but the corn was not planted
this year. For after working with
grubbing hoe and ux from sunup till
shutdown for many days. clearing the
acre OF the big. deep rooted stumps,
Mr.. Pagan told him unconcernedly
that he'd just have TO have that patch
OF ground. IL Bob still wanted 10 plant
some corn he'd have to clear another
acre.
1t was n cruel, mean trick to play on
boy and enough to discourage any
body. but Bob set to work on another
acre. 1t was too late. however, TO
plant the corn when he had finished IL.
and he had TO drop out OF the contest
for this year.
But Miles Pagan was beginning 10
learn that he didn't know very much
about growing corn. The patch across
the fence from his was teaching him
something
Sam planted his contest acre with
the seed furnished by the agent about
the middle of March. The rows were
four feet apart and the stalks in tho
rows eighteen inches. He cultivated
Ii the first time when the corn was
just beginning to come up by going
over 1t with n harrow. This did not
hurt the plants, except one here and
there, and II killed all the little weeds
and grass that were just starting. How
that corn did grow! 1t sprang up al
most like mushrooms. Ii seemed to
Sam that the dark green stalks fairly
laughed In the loose ground that he
had made so rich with manure and
ashes.
The young farmer cultivated the
ground level and never allowed q weed
to take root on that acre. He pulled
the suckers whenever they appeared
and went over IL once with a hoe, but
most OF the work was done with a
plow. The first time or two he plowed
1t tolerably deep. but as the corn grew
larger and the little roots began to run
out across the middles be plowed very
shallow to keep from cutting the roots
and inJuring the corn. But there was
another reason for shallow blowing.
Deep blowing In summer causes the
soil to lose moisture when the crop
needs It most
Sam stirred the top OF the ground till
there was a layer OF dust to hold the
moisture below. He wanted to keep
all the water be could for the growing
corn. and he knew that the sun can
draw water up through n crust in a
! hurry. but can't draw IL through o
layer OF dust-or mulch. as II Is called
He kept the soil this way. He never
| plowed when it was too wet, for that
makes clods. But after rains. as soon
as II was dry enough, or when weeds
began to appear he went over the patch
| with pillow or harrow and stirred the
! surface till IL was all broken up and
| loose.
Bill Googe and Miles Pagan had quit
laughing at Sam They and others In
the neighborhood often stopped In
passing and looked ut the corn and
wondered
II reckon it's jes' an accident" Bill
remarked TO Mr.. Pagan one day, "but
that boys kinder got one on us, Miles
told i'm before he come out here that
he couldn't grow peas on that ground
But. dog my cats, II that amt as fine
corn as ever saw. That acre patch IS
better than the rest, but tell you they
amt none o. his crops 10 be sneezec
at"
II don't exactly understand It"
Miles Pagan replied. but jes' between
you and me. Bill. guess they must bt
somethin' In the governments way o
dom things. You know that kic
don't know nothln' about farmin' ex
cept what the agents told i'm But
look at that acre OF corn and then looh
at mine across the fence. And Il ain't
in the land I know that This lanc
/ o. mine, II anything Is better than his
OF course it's bound TO be IN the fer
tilizer he's usin' and the way he's cul
twain the ground"
The comparison suggested by Mr.
Pagan was enough TO mako any one
stop and think Sans corn was nearly
waist high and had big stalks. while
that OF bis neighbor I'm the Geld acros.