Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1875 — Corn Cultivation. [ARTICLE]

Corn Cultivation.

Corn ground should be put in good order in the proper season. There is no danger of fertilizing too heavily, for all the product of barnyard and all the stable manure that can be obtained at neighboring towns and cities should be lavishly applied. Too much care and time cannot be expended in saving or procuring seed containing the highest amount of vitality. Feeble seed never raises over half a crop. It comes up feeble and uneven, and sustains a feeble existence, and produces a nubbin, if anything. If a former would prosper he must have good seed in all departments of farming—animal and vegetable. If the corn land was plowed last fall the usual practice now is to plow again in the spring with walking cultivator, then harrow down level. Cross out with a three or four row marker (if anyone does not know what this is it is time he did) and then plant with a Brown, Keystone or other good planter. But few men are expert droppers. Where there is one in a neighborhood lie should be employed, and pay him back liberally in work. Corn should not be planted too deep nor too shallow. Judgment must regulate according to soil. The time to plant corn is just when all vegetable or weed life is bursting into life. When you begin planting close the front and rear gate to the farm and lock them for three weeks. There is then no time to haul a little wheat or corn to marketno time for visiting or fishing. So soon as you begin planting bring into requisition every energy, team and hand on the form. If there is an exti \ girl that can be spared from the house, who can drive a team, the sweet, new soil and spring breezes will add roses to her cheeks and strength to her limbs. Let the roller follow close after the planter.., And then within five days, and before the cornsprouts reach the surface, go through with the walking cultivator and plow so as to throw a little loose soil over the corn. It will prevent the surface from baking, and will cover up rebellious weeds which arc trying to get a start of the corn. If the ground is the least lumpy follow the cultivator again with the roller, and then harrow before the corn is up. This plan provides for going four times over the ground between planting and the corn coming up N*w you have a field of corn, if you have followed our suggestion, which has come up regularly, thrifty and vigorous. The ground" is clean and mellow, and the hope of an ample harvest lightens the labors. But if your ground be baked, the corn yellow, feeble and uneven, scarcely distinguishable from the fox-tail in whicl it is lost, then you will toil and sigh so: deliverance from the unrequited labor o the former.

Three weeks commencing the day con is planted is the most important period oi a corn farm. If well improved the char acter of the crop is established, and then the absence of a day will not be so detrimental. If a man has a large amount to plant, it will not do to waif till all is planted to start the roller, harrow and cultivator, but extra hands and teams musl be pressed into the serv ice. After com is large enough to plow, it should be plowed once a week until too high for the beamot the cultivator. Then about wheat harvest hands should go through with a hoe and cut or pull out by hand all weeds which have Asfc&ped the plow, «r which are determined to spread their pestiferous seeds upon the sou. Follow these directions and report to headquarters if there be an) errors in tire specifications. —lotca Stal Register. —Some mothers, writes a physician, think when their children get beyond twc or three years of age the frequent entire bath can "be dispensed with. If some ol the main facts of physiology were well known and understood every one would perceive that cleanliness of the akin is one of the conditions of good health. It happens when bathing is disregarded that the lungs, kidneys or bowels lrave more than their apportionment of work. If these are strong and healthy they may bear the tav with little apparent injury, but in most cases a lowering of the vitality and tone of the system ensues. Large bath-tubs are pleasant and convenient, but not indispensable to the proper cleansing of the skin. A speedy sponging of the body ir pure water.fol lowed by friction is j ure air, is all that is necessary.