OCR Text |
Show By PROF. P. G. HOLD EN, Former Dean 0,cf,e 'wa Aflricu,tural Excellent Seed Corn. PREPARING SOIL FOR CORN There are no "Ironclad" rules which may be followed blindly for the growing grow-ing of corn any more than in other farm work. There is no one best method suited to all sections or to the different soils of a section nor even to the different fields of the same farm. Frequently two very different methods nvay give equally good results. "Have good ground, do the wrk on time, and do it thoroughly," should be the motto of every corn growef Nothing can make up ftfr poor ground. Too many are trying to raise corn on old "worn-out" group d that has produced corn, oats and wfteat for years. I met a man at an inst'tute in Illinois who said in all seriousness that he wf.s satisfied the seasons were less favorable for growing corn than they used to be, as he could get ao such crops as he used to raise. Inquiry developed de-veloped that he had grown com for 17 years in succession on the same piece of ground. No wonder the "seasons were becoming less favorable." Let us remember that it was but a few years ago that the farms of the corn belt were broken from the virgin soil, and that because we have been able to crop the ground continuously in the past, is no assurance that we may continue to do so in the future with. tnges of full plowing are the following: follow-ing: 1. The work is done at the slackest tiuw of the year, when both men and teams would otherwise be idle. 2. Having the ground already plowed In the spring gives us time to better prepare the ground, and, what is of equal importance, to get our corn in on time. 8. A betfi-r prepared and a warmer seed bed, and consequently a better stand of corn. 4. Less danger from insect enemies, especially in the case of sod ground. f. Weeds are prevented from seeding seed-ing and the seeds already In the ground will mostly germinate and be killed by .be fall freezes before they have Seeded. Some disadvantages of fall plowing are : L Occasional losses from blowing 4?id wnshirvj on rolling ground. 2. Unless the ground is disked early In the spring there is a loss of moisture ond a consequent "firing" of tha corn during the latter part of July and August, Au-gust, especially in dry seaso'ns. 3. The fall plowing does not give as good an opportunity to spread manure during the late summer and through the winter. The soils department of the Iowa State college has conducted mny experiments ex-periments with fall an4 spring plowing in different parts of Iowa, and In every case the yield of corn was greater on the full plowing than on tb-o spring plowing. The mistake is commonly wade of leaving the fall -plowed ground without disking until time to plant. The ground has become packed by snow and rain and should be disked or harrowed as soon as the oat seeding is over. This will conserve the moisture and lessen the firing of the corn in August, so common to fall plowing. Ground that is very rolling and likely like-ly to wash should not be plowed in the I fall. Late Planting Bad. Cme of the most serious losses to the corn crop every year is due to late I planting. Experiments show that late-planted late-planted corn seldom yields as much as that planted earlier, and the quality is inferior. The ground becomes hard and out of condition, the weeds have Roots of Corn Do Not Grow Straight Down as Some Farmers Seem to Think Notice How Near the Surface These Corn Roots Are Deep Cultivation Cultiva-tion Late Will Cut the Roots of the Corn. I.Tofit. The fact is that the time Is near at hand when we must give greater great-er attention to the fertility of our soil. What is needed is more clover, better bet-ter us of barnyard manure and less of the continuous cropping with corn, oats and wheat. Fall Plowing for Corn. There Is a difference of opinion regarding re-garding the merits of fall and spring plowing for corn. Among the advan- drawn upon the moisture and available plant food, the crop comes to the dry spell in a more critical stage, the proportion pro-portion of barren stalks is greater and it matures more slowly, contains more water and is much more likely to be caught by the frost. Every year thousands of farmers lose heavily from late planting. Many of these are good farmers, but Pre un- THE LAST CULTIVATION SHOULD BE SHALLOW SHALLOW CULTIVATION OEEP CULTIVATION LATE IN THE SEASON EARLY IN THE SEASON SAVES THE COR.-I ROOTS SAVES THE MOISTURe 1&C expectedly delayed with the spring work, by a eombinntion of had weather, sick horses and scarcity of help. It Is generally advisable to plow stubble ground earlj ia the fall. . First, because the weeds which haT been started will be prevented from seeding, and the weed seods will be brought near to the surface, whera they will germinate and be killed by the frost before they have seeded tn the fall ; and second, there is more spare time for the work. Late full plowing Is best for soil because be-cause : 1. It gives us the benefit of late sun mer pasture. 2. It is the best possible place to spread the barnyard manure during August and September, as there is the least danger of washing or leaching. 3. The ground can be much better prepared and with less work than when plowed in the spring. 4. There Is less danger from damage by cutworms and other insect enemies. Spring Plowing Abused. We often abuse our spring plowing by turning the earth up to the sun and dried winds to bake and dry out, depending de-pending upon a shower to mellow till ground before planting time. With spring plowing it is a good ruk never to leave the field at noon of might without harrowing the newly plowed ground. In my estimation no ground can be properly prepared, giving giv-ing a good seed bed. for corn, withoul the use of the disk. Deapth to Plow. What Is known as deep plowing is not advisable in the corn belt. There is seldom any advantage In plowing more than six inches deep. On heavy soils the bad effects of too deep plowing are eften apparent for several years. Too Deep Planting. Too deep planting is especially bad when the seed is weak or the spring is cold and backward. When the ground is not well prepared or is very mellow, there is danger of putting th seed down four or five inches when Vwo inches would be better. Dry, Mealy Surface Bed. On the other hand, there is no more serious mistake than shallow planting Fine Shock of Corn. In lumpy, dry soil. The moisture Is not sufficient for rapid germination, much of it sours or rots, and the remainder comes up unevenly, with a large per cent of sickly plants. This condition is most frequently found where the spring plowing is not followed by the harrow the same day or where the disk was not used In preparing the seed bed and especially when these two conditions condi-tions are accompanied by a dry, cold May. Cultivation. Cultivation should be level and frequent fre-quent when the corn Is small. It may be deep at first, but it must be shallow later. Many assume that there Is nothing more to do after the corn Is planted for two weeks, or until it Is up and large enough for the first cultivation. There are others who believe in harrowing and even in cultivation before the corn is up, but on account of the pressure of work neglect it. Where ground Is left two weeks and often longer it becomes foul with weeds, which take up the moisture and plant food and also make it difficult to work the corn. The croiind becomes nacked bv the rains and baked by the sun until it is hard and dry. It is especially important In the case of corn that It should not become stunted when young, as it never fully recovers even under the most favorable conditions. The time to kill weeds Is before thej come up and before they have deprived the corn of moisture and nourishment Where It Is possible to do so It Is c good plan to cultivnte the corn one before it comes up, following the culti vator with the harrow. This practice of cultivating the field before the corn is up following th( planter marks as a guide, is a gooc one, and especially on old and badlj worn ground or heavy clay ground anc land that lias become foul. It Is a common practice with some to barrow corn nfter It Is up, but I pre fer to cultivate and harrow as de scribed above, especially on eornstaH ground. Even on stubble ground the barrow does considerable damage t the young corn. It is a very common mistake to cultl vate shallow when the corn Is smal and "lay it by" with a deep cultivation The reyerse will be more profitable There is little danger to the roots froc deep cultivation the first time ae4 there Is great advantage going deej enough to secure a good mulch. |