The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-03-01
CORN GROWING FOR THE
MOUNTAINS

Crop time will soon be here and l
am writing you now to make some
suggestions about getting ready for
this seasons crop Of corn.
II isn't always the richest soil that
grows the biggest cop. The best
soils should grow the best crops,
but il doesn't always work out that
way. Sometimes il looks as II the
number OF bushels an acre OF
land will grow depends on who is
doing the work. The methods used
in handling the crop during the sea-
son must certainly influence the
Weld. 10 isn't the man who spends
the most money for commercial
fertilizer who gets the largest yields
from the land.
There are many different kinds
of soils and many other conditions
which influepce crop yields. The
farmer who wants to get the most
from his land must study very care
fully every point which has any in
fluence on the crop. This study
might begin long before the
crop is planted and must be kept up
nutil it is harvested and in the BARN.
The first thing to do is to decide
right now to quit trying to cultivate
SO much rough hillside land. No
machinery known will put such soil
in good enough condition for culti-
waited crops. Such land should be
put into Bermuda or some other
grass which will sod and hold the
soil and should not be plowed for
several years. Many farmers think
they must farm every acre at least
once in four or five years and try
TO do this. The result is that they
do not allow enough time between
the seasons of cultivation for the
grasses TO become well sodded. By
blowing and cultivating the soil
again before a good sod has formed,
such farmers allow the rains 10
carry off more fertility in one sea-
son than the three or four rest
years" can replace. IL would pay
much better to use such land in
Bermuda or some other grass which
will quickly sod. Keep the field
free from briars and sprouts and by
this method have some permanent
pasture for the cattle and sheep.
A few acres well titled and enrich
ed means a crib well filled. The
biggest job the farmer has is to
make himself put in a smaller crop
and cultivate it better. Two acres
well managed will make better
yield than ten acres managed in the
old way. Many farmers are afraid
to try a new method because they
are AFRAID it will cost them more
than the old. II would of course, be
foolish to adopt a method OF farm
ing that proved more costly in the
long run. II will cost more to Guilt
vate an acre as it ought to be done,
but the crop grown will cost less per
bushel than it costs by the usual
methods. You should try this out
this season for you won't find out
in any other way. You will find
that the corn you grow will cost
less and what better reason do you
want for changing the method OF
growing the crop?
Later | will write you in regard
to methods of cultivation, etc, but
you should start now to get the
land in shape for the crop. Begin by
selecting well drained soil and start
now improving it for the crop. Use
every bit of manure you can spare
from the other crops. You can
have more than usual manure by
using leaves and trash for bedding
the stables. Put the manure on
the land broadcast. II it is coarse
material. nut il on before blowing: