The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-04-26
MANITOBA GROWS
GOOD SEED CORN
By ]. G. HANEY

Superintendent of the 1. H. C. Dem
onstration Farms.
Corn is generally considered warm
climate crop and is grown most ex-
tensively in such regions 1t is there
fore surprising to many that this
great crop can, and is being grown
successfully in regions far to the
north.
On our demonstration farms in
North Dakota, South Dakota, Mani
toba and Saskatchewan we are en-
deavoring to promote a more perma-
nent and prosperous type of farming.
The need of cultivated crop to con-
troll weeds, supply feed for livestock,
distribute the farm work and help TO
overcome the drawback of dependence
on single crop for income, is so i'm
portant that we have given careful
attention to the growing of corn.
The season of 1923 could not be
classed as above average in favoring
corn production. The proof of success
full corn production is unquestionably
the growing of it under ordinary field
conditions and the saving of good,
high vitality seed. In the 16 years, the
North and South Dakota farms have
been operated, we have not failed
single year in saving some seed, which
means also that we have had good
mature corn for the silo or TO feed as
fodder.
On the Oak Lake, Manitoba, farm
last year (1928) we grew and saved
more than 100 bushels of seed of our
international Yellow Dent" This
corn has been grown continuously on
our North Dakota farm for 10 years,
and is becoming better acclimated. 1t
was originally Minnesota 13, but due
to being grown farther north and Sc
lected for earlier maturity, it is no
longer properly called Minnesota 13
(seed houses are listing this as extra
early Minnesota Is, Haney strain.)
This corn grows the ears well up
from the ground and does not sucker
as the flipts do so that it can be cut
with the corn binder, without losing
many ears.
Farmers are generally coming TO
recognize the fact that a smaller
yield of mature corn such as this early
variety will produce, will have as
much, or more corn, and better feed
ing value than the big fodder corns.
The smaller corn is much more easily
handled, and leaves more moisture in
the soil for the following crop.
Corn grows and natures more rap
idly on land that has been manured
and grown a crop of sweet clover.
Crops must have food, just as ami
mails do, to grow and mature rapidly.
Our corn land at Oak Lake, last wear.
had grown crop of sweet clover, and
had been MANFRED. Following the
corn crop, high yielding and high
quality wheat with little or no dock
age is produced.
Fall blowing (when it will not
drl1t) thoroughly worked just before
planting, is preferable to spring plow-
ing for corn. If it is not advisable to
fall pillow the land should be disked
or cultivated as early as possible in
the spring to stop evaporation and to
warm the land, and then plewed Just
before planting.
We checkrow-plant so as to Guilt
vate both ways-and drop two to
three grains per hill, 81 feet apart
each way. This planting requires about
one bushel of seed for 8 acres. or so
cents per acre at $4 per bushel. The
planting is begun as soon after Nav
l as possible and we have seldom not
been able to plant before MAY 10.
Corn not planted before May 20 does
not have full chance to mature be-
fore fall frost. The early planting
may be nipped by late frost but this
does not damage the corn as much
as early fall frost before it is ma
tGre.
The fact that we produced good. |
mature dent corn in 1925 on our Oak
Lake farm is our most encouraging
demonstration of possibilities in this
district. Corn can be grown success,
fully, to furnish feed for livestock.
help control weeds, and diversity our
cropping system. Corn is needed, and
can be grown successfully on MANY
farms that have never attempted to
grow this crop.