Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 201]

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193 of plant food, the stalks are more readily reached by the sunshine and air, and there is less probability of considerable areas being left without any stalks. The practical objection to drill planting is the greater difficulty in keeping the crop free from weeds. Our practice is to plant in drills on broken sod or other land reasonably free from weeds. In such land we prefer one stalk 12 inches apart to a larger number at greater distances. An irregular or uneven "stand" is one of the chief causes of light yields. Even with good seed, a favorable season, land in good condition, the planting carefully done in proper season, a considerable percentage of the kernels fail to produce matured stalks. The probable losses from birds or "ground game," insects, and accidents in cultivation are serious. Poor seed or an unfavorable season may make this loss much greater. Keplanting is unsatisfactory. It is at least an open question whether it would not be wise to plant more thickly than it is desired to have the corn stand, and* cut out the surplus after the first or second cultivation, The smaller varieties may safely be planted more thickly than the larger ones. Planters adjustable to plant at different distances are desirable on this account. Increasing the number of kernels per hill makes too much difference. With hills four feet apart each way there would be 2,722 hills per acre; at three feet eight inches apart there would be 3,240; an increase of about 19 per cent. An increase from three to four kernels per hill would be an increase of one-third. It is easily possible to plant corn too thick, but an uneven or insufficient "stand" is a much more common evil. With varieties of ordinary size, planted in hills three feet eight inches apart, it is believed better to have three stalks to the hill. This will give 9,720 stalks per acre, and of these 10 per cent, or more will fail to produce good ears. ' Fall or early winter plowing is preferred to spring plowing, but there are many cases in which this is not practicable. Aside from any gain in condition of the soil, one great advantage from fall plowing is that in case of unfavorable weather in spring there is less danger of the planting being unduly delayed, or the ground being worked when too wet. In the case of grass land, or that to which barn-yard manure has been applied, deep plowing is not desirable on our soil. The depth of plowing is, however, often overestimated. Getting the ground in good condition before or immediately after planting is a great saving of after cultivation. The best time for killing weeds or grass is as soon as possible after they have started to grow. Harrowing, either before or after the corn appears, is often wise. We do not practice harrowing after the corn has well started its growth. If the ground is dry and somewhat rough the roller is used. Much corn land is insufficiently cultivated; more often the work is not most wisely done, and sometimes more is done than is necessary. The chief objects of cultivation while the crop is growing are to loosen and pulverize the soil, so the roots can more readily penetrate it and obtain plant food from it; to destroy or prevent the growth of weeds or grass; to prevent the surface becoming hard or "baked" when wet, and to have the loosened surface soil Ind.—13