The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-04-14
CULTIVATION Of CORN.

CULTIVATION Of CORN.
Economic Factors Play Important
Part In Determining Methods.
Prepared by United States department OF
agricultural
A detailed study of farm practice In
the cultivation of corn has recently
been made by the United States de-
partment Of agriculture for the purpose
Of Offering to farmers in n locality
an opportunity to obtain information
in regard to successful practice else
where. Surveys were made in twenty
one representative corn growing dis
tricts, which are grouped into five divi-
sions-frst, the central western; Sec
ond, the southeastern; third, the south
central; fourth, the southwestern, and
fifth, the northeastern. In each Of
these divisions it was found that more
or less distinct methods and practices
are employed.
Since the farmer is primarily a bust
ness man and not al agronomist, or,
in other words, Is more interested In
making money than in raising large
crops, it was found that economic fac
tors played everywhere an important
part in determining the methods of
cultivation. On the most productive
farms more cultivation to corn is given
both before and after planting than On
the less fertile soils. On good land ex-
ira labor is rewarded by increased
yields to an extent which justifes the
cost involved. On poorer land this
may not be the cas- If, for example,
we assume that extra preparation re-
suits in an increase Of 10 per cent on
soils which yield normally sixty BUSH
els Of corn per acre the farmers add
tional work would be repaid by six
more bushels. On soil which yields
only twenty bushels under normal con
ditions, however, this extra work would
return him only two additional bush
els. Six bushels might easily repre-
sent a profit on the investment Of labor
and two bushels a loss.
Similar reasons govern the kind of
tllage employed. 1t has been ascer-
tanned that less acreage is worked per
horse in the regions where improved
implements and heavy teams are en-
ployed. On the other hand, more acre.
age is worked per man. With very
cheap labor one horse implements may
be more economical than heavier ones.
On the other hand, where labor is high
priced and horses and capital for farm
machinery fairly abundant, heavier
teams are more advantageous.
The question Of drainage is also de-
termined chiefly by economic consider
ations. Tile drainage is practiced ex-
tensively only on the most productive
soils, where land values are extremely
high. In general 1t may be said that
where land is cheap the farms are
large, with a small percentage under
cultivation. Where land is mere ex-
pensive the farms are smaller, and a
larger percentage Of each is cultivated.
SubsOiling-the breaking up or loos-
ening Of the subsoil without mixing it
with the top soils usually employed
only in regions where the soils are low
in organic matter. Sandy or loamy
soils, unless they are underlaid with a
stiff subsoil, are usually plowed deeper
than the heavy clay soils. When land
is plowed in the fall it is also usual to
break 1t deeper than when plowed III
the spring.
The choice of fall or spring blowing
is governed largely by the character of
the crop which occupies the land the
previous year. When corn follows sod
more land is generally plowed in the
fall than when corn follows some cul-
tivated crop. In Texas, Oklahoma and
to some extent in Kansas the practice
Of blowing in the fall and then listing
in the spring with either a middle
buster or a combined lister and planter
is quite general. This is almost eQuiva-
lent to r%ebreaking in the spring.