The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-03-21
GROWING GOOD CORN
An Interesting Article Anent Corn It's Planting and
Cultivation and Value Crop
By Mr.. o. c.. L.

01OS dS q S1Op -
O. G. L. e
I 1HEHN NNNHNafalaaHazEak
that it can be planted early. Fur
thermore, the earlier soil is plow.
ed the more spring rain it catches.
The popular rule, "Plow as early
in spring as the ground works up
mellow" epitomes the experience
of many generations of farmers.
The exact time to plow in the
spring depends on the wetness of
the soil. If the soil is light and
porous it may be plowed two or
three weeks earlier than heavy
soil on the same farm. Not till the
soil crumbles when turned up in
the furrow- slice is it in the best
condition for blowing. If it is
turned over in clods there will be
trouble. The texture of a clayey
soil may be nearly ruined by plow-
ing it in wet condition; the soil is
thrown into great clods which it
may take several years to mellow.
There is always tendency to plow
heavy soils too early, when they
are wet, since early blowing means
so much to the success of grains
which thrive best upon these soils.
On the other hand, it is unproft-
able when the soil is very dry, as
such soil is likely to be puddled
by rains when the Jumps have been
pulvervized by the harrow. In
order to secure a good seed bed for
corn, especially if the soil is heavy
and has tendency to get cloddy.
it will be found good practice to
harrow the soil within a few hours
after plowing certainly the same
day. Much of the water in the
soil will also be saved this way for
the growing crop. I remember
how I ruined twenty acres of fer
tile land on my uncle's farm in
Illinois some years ago by not har-
rowing the soil each day after
plowing, although told to do so.
When we we're ready to plant corn
on it, it was impossible to harrow
or disk the soil so it would be fit
for planting. We finally got the
corn in, but it went only twelve
bushels to the acre while corn on
the land adjoining it went sixty.
five bushels to the acre.
WHEN AND How TO PLANT
CoRN.-Corn which is to be sold
on the market at top prices must
be ripe and of a good quality. To
secure both top prices and good
market the farmer must plant his
corn at the proper time; neglecting
to do so has ruined many a good
corn field. The best time to plant
corn depends on the climate and
on the temperature of the soil. Corn
should not be put into the soil if
the temperature is lower than 70
degrees. In Nebraska, Minnesota,
South Dakota, North Dakota and
Montana corn should be planted
between the 18th of May and the
10th of June and not later; corn
planted later will only be good for
silage and fodder. There seems to
be difference of opinion among
farmers how to plant corn in order
to secure the best returns. Some
believe that drilled and listered
corn is better than checked corn
that is, corn checked into the
ground with a wire at distance
of 3 feet 4 inches to 3 feet 6 inches
apart, while others believe the re-
verse holds true. 1t has, however
been proven time and again, that
when large ears and a good grade
of corn is to be secured, the corr
should be planted in rows 3 feel
6 inches by 8 feet 6 inches square
Some farmers now even make this
distance 3 feet 8 inches. It has
also been proved that only two anc
three kernels should be dropped
into a hill and not four and five
for the ears from a hill with two