The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-03-21


and five kernels in. Such ears are
usually nothing but nubbins. IF,
however, a large amount of stalks
is wanted. as for fodder and silage
then the corn may be drilled OF
even listered; the latter, however,
is very seldom used nowadays. II
has only a few advantages and
many disadvantages. Corn should
also be planted not more than three
inches deep if it is to germinate
early; study of your test box, as
described in the second chapter,
will convince you to that effect.
There you will see that deeper
corn terminates much slower and
takes more time to appear above
the soil than the shallower corn.
Some of it don't germinate at all
but rather rots where it lies. This
is one of the chief causes why SO
many of the so-called corn hills in
the field are missing. It is necessary
that your corn must have a firm
hold in the soil, especially if your
locality is subjected to high wind
storms. dirt may be brought
around the corn, if the same has
appeared about three inches above
the ground, gradually by means OF
the cultivator. 1t is also of i'm
portance that you harrow your
field right after planting, other
wise the crows, gophers and prairie
dogs will follow up the burrows,
made by the wheels of the planter
and dig out the seed.
Corn CULTIvATING. This is an
important item; for many a good
field of corn has been ruined by
bad cultivating. If you look back
to your testing box you will notice
that the roots of the corn do not
grow down into the soil, but rather
horizontal with the ground. This
is due chiefly because the roots
naturally seek the richest part of
the soil. The soil near the surface
usually contains the most plant
food, because so much soluble
plant food has been left there by
the evaporation of soil water, and
because the surface soil contains
more humus, more germ life, more
air and more of everything that
makes for fertility. In all ordi-
nary soils the largest proportion
of feeding roots is found immedi-
ately below the range of the cult
vator teeth. provided that part of
the soil is in good texture. In a
warm climate plants root deeper
than in cool climate. Deep cult
walton during the growing season
cuts off innumerable rootlets and
root hairs that are foraging in the
richest places they can find. To
"plow OUT corn field four OF
five inches deep. in July, is to
practice root pruning of severe
character. Some farm crops don't
seem to be injured appreciably by
this kind of root pruning, but corn
certainly will. From what has
been said in the above, it will be
seen that deep cultivation is not a
good practice, and in order to
avoid it the right kind of cultiva-
tor is a great necessity. Deep.
working. ard-pulling and root.
cutting cultivators have long been
sent to junk heaps by the success.
full corn-grower. and shallow-work.
ing coulter and spike-tooth cult.
yators put in their places. One OF
the best cultivators on the market
to-day is one that carries on each
beam two knife blades about II
inches long instead of shovels
These blades are set in such man.
ner so they can cut horizontal and
from two to three inches below the
surface. The roots of the corr
will thus not be cut and torn out,
but rather have a chance to pass
under and above the blades. Fur.
thermore, this cultivator not only
cuts all weeds below the surface
but also leaves an exceedingly fine
mulch as it passes through the