Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-12
Horticultural
0SGducation
S AND SUCCESSFUL EARRING
E5sZsz By ANDREWH 0oULE


Corn has now come TO be one OF
Gsorgia's most important crops. Last
year. for the first time in the history
Of the state. an abundance OF corn was
produced to supply local needs Many
counties. which previous to that tims
had found il necessary 90 import several
car loads OF corn each season, had a sur
plus for shipment to less favored sec
rions.
This story has been repeated in prac'
tically every southern state The south
can. OF course, produce much more cora
than is now being raised with prOfii
and advantage. In Georgia, for in
stance. the area devoted TO corn could
easily be doubled and certainly the
yield can be raised. by good methods OF
practice, considerably beyond fifteen
bushels per acre. the average for 1915
To do this the land must be very care
fully prepared. hence the proper Guilt
walton Of corn is a matter OF vital inn
portance 10 every good farmer. Real
izing this fact. brief summary Of some
OF the suggestions made by Prof
George A Crabb. OF the department OF
agronomy OF the Georgia State COllega
OF Agriculture. mas been summarized
and is presented below for the infor-
nation and advice Of our readers. Stud
the facts set forth very carefully AMI
let them be a source OF inspiration and
guidance TO you during the season of
1915.
Corn requires thorough cultivation
from the time II is planted until the
ears are well made. There are three
very important reasons for cultivation:
ID To conserve the moisture in the
soil: CD TO kill the weeds. and 90 10
-. a-4NN L.. -
ton These reasons are Of great i'm
portsnce because they control factors
that influence the growth and yield OF
corn
Nothing is so important in growing
corn as an adequate supply OF moisture
throughout the growing period. This
moisture must be supplied from the
soil Maintaining moisture in the soil
is achieved by Cd preparing a seed bed
that will absorb the rainfall and act
as a storage reservoir for water, (2l
by having abundant organic matter in
the soil. and (3) by frequent cultiva-
ton of the surface to reduce loss by
evaporation.
All plants require moisture for their
growth The larger the plants and the
more leaves and stalks they have, the
greater will be the quantity of mois-
ture required for their growth and ma
turity.
Corn requires much more water for
its growth than any other crops, there
fore. every means should be used to
supply a sufficient amount throughout
its growth. Generally speaking. corn
viii require from three hundred to four
hundred pounds OF water TO produce one
pound OF dry matter. This means that
yield of 100 bushels of grain and
three tons Of leaf and stalk will re-
quire 1880 TO 1850 tons Of water for
their growth and maturity. an amount of
water that would cover an acre to a
depth OF Is to % inches.
The average rainfall OF Georgia is
about so inches annually. of which only
about IL to IA inches fall during June,
July and August when water is most
needed by the corn crop. OF the IL to
Il inches. perhaps one-third is lost
by surface run-off. Therefore, IL is
necessary TO begin the preparation for
= large corn yield by turning under a
coed quantity Of vegetable matter and
b. making a good friable, or mellow
seed-bed that will readily absorb the
rainfall and store il up to be used by
the corn in midsummer. This prepara-
tion OF the seed bed followed by proper
cultivation OF the surface checks the
loss Of moisture by evaporation. that
is. loss through the action OF the sun
ard air.
Soil that is covered by some material