Year: 1877

Prairie Farmer.l


The continued rains in large area of
the eorn-growing region of the West,
which in the early part of May caused
such gloomy forebodings as to the future
Of the corn crop, happily gave place to
clear weather in time for planting. There
is no doubt that by the last of May farm
ers pretty generally had their fields
plantel.


We think the favorable weather since,
has caused it to gernlinate promptly, ard
the prospect now is that the West will
have good stand of corn, somewhat
late it Is true, but there is yet ample
time. with a favorable season, for the
crop II fully mature. -Four weeks will
determine in a great measure, the yield.
With the yield, early and continued cul-
tivatiou has more to do than many farm
ers suppose. In the first place it forces
the Young plantsInto strong and rapid
growth, and next, the weeds are so
thoroughly destroyed while yet young,
that in the event Of subsequent wet
weather intervening, thus preventing
cutivating for time, the crop IS not
overgroWn with weeds.


To accomplish this early cultivation
there Is no better implement than any of
the ordinary harrows, provided they be
light, and the teeth quite sharp. Unless
the ground is full Of trash there is but
little, ii any, loss in the tearing out OF
corn. 4 Scotch harrow, even, may be
run over the land without reference to
the hills, and as the corn grows, no per
son would be able to detect damage from
the dragging; but even the superficial
observer would quickly perceive the diff
ference in appearance, and altogether for
the better, OF the corn narrowed once OF
twice before it was large enough for the
cultivator. When it is large enough for
blowing the field will be clean, and if the
blowing be carefully done, the hills will
be as free of weeds as any portion of the
of the field.


ii every farmer was careful to prepare
his land in the best manner for corn; il
il we're narrowed once before it came up
and again about the time it was fairly up
and then faithfully plowed three or four
times, as it might seem to need, instead
Of the ofoP of Illinois averaging about q
bushels per acre, the average nigh
easily be increased to 40 or even 81
bushels In good seasons, on rich land
the best cultvator5 get from so to 81
bushels per acre. Last season one croI
of 100 acres, reported to the Illinois
Board Of Agriculture, averaged some
thing over 100 bushels per acre. What
made this very extraordinary crop, con
sidering the number Of acres? First, ricf
land; second perfect and uniform stand
of corn; and, third, first rate and con
tiuued surface cultivation SO long as the
corn could be worked.


This leads Us to say something about
seed corn. No man need expect to have
perfect stand Of corn, in catching sea
sons who depends upon the average
Western corn crib for his seed. If il
were not the fact that com has strong
terminating powers it would force every
man to extreme care in the saving OF
seed corn. North Of the central portion
of Indiana, Illinois, and Southern Iowa
farmers are obliged to use great care in
saving their seed. 1t does not ripen so
fully IN average years as to be thorough
iy dry, before frost comes As we &C
South, farmers are less and less particu
lar vet it is a fact that we, as a rule,
hear less complaint from farmers North
on account Of corn rotting in the ground,
than from the heart of the corn
zone There can be but one reason for
this 1t is the care used in saving the
seed aud and preserving 1t intact through
the winter.