Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1874 — Planting Corn. [ARTICLE]

Planting Corn.

The cold and backward weather this : spring will undoubtedly cause many farmers in the great corn belt of the West to fear an untoward season for this important cereal, and with good reason, if the cold spring should be followed by wet weather in May. One of the popular delusions with many-is-that corn, to succeed, must be planted immediately after plowing. While it is true that in this case the corn has at least an - equal chance with the weeds, it is about' ail the defensible argument in the premises. And the com area Of the country is diminished by many acres and many crops arc lost entirely by waiting until planting time before plowing for the crop. Indeed, some of the best crops we have ever raised were upon fall-plowing, without replowing in the spring, the land being simply thoroughly cultivated and harrowed to kill the crop of weeds; this was in wet seasons unfavorable to spring plowing. It will therefore be sound policy to plow whenever practicable, and plant as soon as the weather is warm enough to germinate the corn; first harrowing thoroughly to kill the weeds that mav have sprung up- ... ’ Land thus plowed, and partially solidified before planting, will stand far more harrowing before and after the corn is up, without tearing out the corn, than freshlyplowed land even when rolled, and in these days of improved com planters, with which the earth may be pressed about the seed, rolling the entire surface becomes unnecessary. In planting with that class of machines which have coverers to the dropping attachment followed by wheels, leaving the earth ridged over the seed, care should be taken not to plant too deeply; three inches is the utmost depth at which corn should be planted to insure good and quick germination, unless the soil be exceedingly dry; two inches being the proper depth to insure the most speedy sprouting, the condition being ordinarily favorable. This depth, however, would be light planting when the harrow is to be thoroughly used before and after the com has come up. Ih this case three inches would be better unless the soil is exceedingly heavy. Another circumstance not generally known by farmers is that good sound seed planted very early, if it does not become water-soaked, will remain in the ground until the weather becomes warm and then sprout promptly, and coming up is far less susceptible to cold, and will stand a frost that will entirely kill later plantings. Those who have seen ears of com which have been plowed under in the fall sprouting from the germ of every kernel and untouched by frost will readily appreciate this. Not that we advise planting corn with a view to having it lie a long time in the ground before germinating; nevertheless it is a fact that it will do this and grow when later planted corn will not Many farmers understanO this, -and plant com, covering pretty deeply and ridging over the rows, these ridges to be harrowed down just about the time the com is sprouted. If the com grows several days are gained for the season of green com, and consequently for ripening; if not the next planting for succession comes all right So with field com; if one have good seed and plenty of it, planting may go on even if

the season be early and cold. If the corn rot it is sifnply a matter of re-planting; if it germinate we are so much ahead. Another circumstance not generally known in connection with this early planting is, that corn planted when the soil is yet too cold to germinate the seed remains all right, swells gradually and, when warm weather comes, springs up; while other corn, planted later, swells, and, a cold spell coming on, instead of growing it rots, for the reason that in the one case the change takes place gradually while under a low heat, and the warm weather finds the grain ready to germinate ; but in the other case, under the action of heat and moisture, the change takes place quickly, and the next cold snap finds the grain just in the right condition to be rotted. It would be well to bear this fact in mind, this season especially, as so far it has been a succession of alternately warm and cold spells of weather. From present indications there is every reason to conclude that we shall uot have a first-rate season for corn. If not, corn will be high, and every additional bushel will be just so much more money in the pockets of the farmers.— Western Rural.