American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-04-19
CHAPTER XIV.
i-;oar the Corn Grow.

- rake SO as to conserve the
moisture and applied 200 pounds Of nj.
trate Of soda when the stalks were
Ao-thirds grown.
That gave the crop a strong impetus.
and tassels began to show above the
dark green leaves. some of which were
almost five inches across. A good
soaking rain fell, followed by a cloudy
day and a days drizzle. That night
1t showered Internationally. ana Joe and
his father went down about dusk be
tween showers. HIS father had told
him he heard something ~rustling about
In the corn. The idea Of a COW or a
horse in there working havoc sent a
cold chill down Joe's back.
The two stopped at the fence and
listened IN the dead stiffness.
There was a cautious rustling, faint
but plain. 1t was a sort Of whispered
rustic that a person could sense more
than he could hear.
Hear that. That's it, Some o.
them pesky calves in therer' excitedly
urged Mr.. Weston.
The sibilant rustic was heard again.
In fact, It never seemed to stop. Oc-
casionally there was a louder noise.
Joe laughed.
THAT'S the first time I ever heard
corn grow be said.
Heard it growf That's the first l
ever heard Of that sort Of foolishness,"
snorted his father.
That's what l said-heard it grow.
That noise is just the unfolding Of the
leaves. The rain is furnishing plenty
Of moisture and the sap is rushing up,
and the leaves are simply opening fast
-tassels coming out, and all that"
"Ill believe mighty near anything my
son says about corn, but blame my cats
If / 90 that far as to say l heard corn
grow said Mr.. Weston. with much
distrust in his tone.
"All right, then. What makes that
rustling In there?' asked Joe.
"Pesky calf-or-or jay birds roostin'
in it, or-Or wind" He ran out Of con
lectures.
you know it amt possible for a calf
to be in there because we been all
round the fence; it's tight, and the gate
is locked. Now, cut out the calf sug-
gested Joe.
well, how about jay birds or wind,
or varmints?' asked Mr.. Weston hope
fully. He was determined that 1t
should not be unfolding corn leaves
that he heard.
did you ever hear of jay birds roost-
ing in ~corn-honest, nowT' insisted
Joe.
well, don't knows l ever did"
Nj right; Jay birds and calves are
out Of the question. Do you feel any
breeze to rustic the cornT'
"N-nO-blieve not" said Mr.. Weston.
He was being hemmed in and knew 1t.
There never was a calmer %night-not
q breath Of air stirring.
Now the wind is out of the question
too. Listen! Hear that?" They lis
tened again.
Sounds like the whisperin' in that
big seashell when you hold it to your
ear" said Mr.. Weston.
Amt a thing In the world except the
corn growing-leaves unfolding and
rubbing against one another as they
Open-that makes that noise. SO YOU
can say that you've heard corn grow.
even # you never saw it grow sug-
gested his son.
well, live nm learn" his father re
sponded.
Hope to goodness we won't have a
rain for about two or three weeks"
said Joe. That corn is fine. and if we
pave a nice, quiet, dry spell and no
big wind the pollen will fall plentiful
from the tassels to the silk, and the
ears will be seeded plumb to the end.
I'd fertile grains. Wet weather lust
AT tasseling time is bad for corn. 1t
is always better If the weather is dry
and still"
I've heard old farmers say that, but
they didn't know the reason said Mr..
Weston.
If there's much wet weather or
wind about tasseling time the pollen
from the tassels don't fall on the silk
evenly. That is necessary TO make a
perfect grain. There's a strand OF silk
for each grain. Unless that strand gets
pollen on it. no grain. Rain and wind
wash the pollen away before it gets
No. all the silk
THAT makes hubby cornf" inquired
his father. Joe nodded.
If the weather had been ordered
especially for the corn It could not
have peer any finer, 1t was exactly
three weeks until a gentle, slow rain
fell one night.
My crops made; it's nader re,
joiced Joe when he arose the next
morning. Grains all formed; now
plenty of moisture to fill 'em out.
crops made, l tell you, and it's going