VOL. XXX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MAROH 2, 1895.
NO. 9.
OOBN 0ULTUBE.
Ous  pbize  essays—[The  number  of
essays published refer to tbe order of publication, and not to the awards.   The com
mlttee -will not make the decision until
al] essays are published ]
Editobs Indiaha Farmer:
No. 6. The essentials for growing
a maximum corn orop are: On the
part of the farmer, close observation, good oommon sense and sound
judgment; good seed of the right
kind; proper preparation of the gronnd
and Judicious cultivation of the crop; cut
ting at the right time and saving both ear
and stalk in the best manner possible. On
the part of nature, suitable soil and favorable weather.
No one can Instruct another in aU the
necessary details for growing the best orop
owing to difference in formation and fertility of soil and changeable weather.
Kach farmer mnst determine for himself
what, how and when to do, remembering
that success depends as much upon doing
at the right time as knowing how to do.
Good seed most have well preserved vi
talityandbe of a variety suite I forthe
particular locality. My ideal Is the largest
well formed, deep grained ear that will
{prow on the smallest stalk and mature in
every locality. The locality best suited to
a oortaln variety may be restricted to a
particular field, and even to parts of the
Bame field where the soil varies from muck
ey to clayey and sandy. Suit your seed
to soil and length of growing season.
Barnyard manure and clover are the
best fertilizers if judiciously used.   Clean
up and haul to field all mannre in autumn;
haul from stables during winter; clean up
again In spring, spreading all from wagon
reserving the ground most liable to wash
for spring manuring.   Ground that has
been in clover one  year is the best for
oorn.   Older sod ia  more infested with
worms, insects and weed seed.   But don't
. expect too much if yon mow the clover
for hay and then shave it again to get a
small orop of seed, and if nature should
still succeed   ln   growing a protecting
winter mulou turn the Btock on to remove
all but the roots.   The potash and nitrogen thus removed are necessary for a full
oorn crop.   If mammoth clover be grown
for seed a paying seed crop may bare
moved and yet have from one half to a
ton of stubble per acre on the ground,
which, with the roots, will contain nearly
all the mineral  substances, potash, lime,
eto, extracted from the soil by the clover
and most of the nitrogen absorbed from
the air and also leave  the best winter
mulch that nature and man oan provide.
Whether fall or spring plowing for corn
Is the better must be determined by experiment.   I have expended as muoh labor
in preparing fall plowing as was required
tb both plow and prepare in the spring
without any benefit to the crop.   I prefer
a winter mulch of clover, adding all the
manure made, plowing jast before planting, because it is best for my rotation
which is clover stubble and manure turned
under In spring,  oorn,  wheat in oorn
ground, wheat stubble turned under and
more or less olover seed turned up, second
crop wheat and. volunteer crop of olover.
But remember you must turn some clover
seed down to turn up again.
The proper depth to plow for corn can
neat be determined by experience. Five
to eight Inches will cover the range of best
depth. Subsoiling may be profitable in
places. My aim is to plow six inches
deep for cofn and put Into those Bix inches
all the fertility produced on the farm that
I can snd then help make lt available for
plant food by after cultivation, not only
for the immediate corn crop but also for
the two succeeding wheat crops.   No iron
First deep, afterwards rather shallow, frequent and long e mtinued cultivation, wet
or dry, using an implement that will stir
the moist soil, is the best general rule that
I can give. A properly constructed modern weeder is not only a novel but an effective implement too. Save and utilize
that third of the crop represented by well
preserved fodder.
Kosciusko Co.
Editobs Indiana Fabmkb:
No 7. The farming lands of this county are
oomposed of gray and black sandy loam,
with considerable clay soil in some places.
Much of it is tile drained in the wettest
parts. Preparation for a crop of corn
should begin at least a year in advance.
Our practice is a three . years' rotation of
crops, c.over, corn and wheat. Clover
sod, with a mixture cf timothy and other
grasses, gives a batter chance for a large
yield of corn than all clover. As a rule
we pasture all of our stock, and fatten all
our hogs on clover fields. We value the
bsnetit to the land from feeding on the
fields to be equal to five cents per bushel
for every bushel of oorn fed. We haul all
manures made about onr barns direct to
our sod ground as fast as it accumulates,
and spread |from the wagon. Fall and
winter plowing has never given us the
best results. Sometimes early spring
plowing does the best, but not always
The ground should be broken not less
than six inches deep and turned over well,
so as to leave the land In good shape for
the harrow. It pays to thorougly prepare
the soil before planting. No maohine will
do good work on a rough and cloddy surface. We plant mostly with the check-
rower, in hills three feet eight Inohes
each way, aiming to drop from two to
four kernels in each hill. It is important to have the seed covered with soil a
uniform depth ot from one to two inches,
ln order that it may all germinate and
came up about the same time.
We have discarded the use of the harrow after the corn is planted, but start the
cultivator as soon as the corn is two inches
high. Replant where there is one stalk.
A few replants will add greatly to the
yield by furnishing pollen to plants that
may need It, thus lengthening the peri d
of growth. The ears will not only be larger and better filed, bat the grains will be
deeper and plumper. We thin to three
stalks to the hill. This work should be
done early while the plants are yet small.
Use sprlngtooth cultivators with eight to
ten small shovels. Cultivate shallow but
thorough. Do not hill up to the corn but
leave the soil as level ai possible. It will
not wash so much by heavy rains and will
retain moisture better. We usually cultivate four times. Twice each way, being
careful the last plowing not to run so
olose as to disturb the roots of the corn.
Remove all weeds that may have escaped
the cultivator. It does not pay to grow
weeds. Corn cultivated in the manner
above described will usually yield from
50 to 75 bushels per acre.
Union Co.
Editobs Indiana Fabmkb:
No. 8. To receive the riohest rewards
from the culture of oorn, we like olover
sod best. We think the mos. convenient
and profitable way is to have alternate,
crops of oorn, wheat and clover.
As a rule spring plowing is preferable,
although muoh depends upon the character of the spring. The ground should be
broken at a moderate depth, but not too
deeply, especially if it has not been sub •
jsoted to deep plowing, as too much subsoil might bs brought up. After breaking
the harrow is often the best implement for
pulverizing. If cloddy use the drag.
Never use the roller in the spring, especially if the ground Is inclined to pack.
Work   "
pends. We plant about the first of May,
three and a half feet apart each way, or if
drilled,  eighteen or twenty Inches apart.
We prefer corn cheoked; for If the weeds
should get a start on account of wet weather, we can more easily eradicate them
without the use of the hce.
We use the same cultivation for both.
Oar plan is to nee none but gocd seed; and
inoid9rto prooure this we gather the
choicest ears early in the fall and hang
tbem in some dry place. Cold weather
will not Id jure them if kept dry. Before
the yonng sprout has made'its appearance
we make the surface mellow and destroy
all weeds by going over it with a small
toothed harrow. If the ground should harrow up cloddy, we would roll if dry.
After oorn gets up nicely we use the spring
tooth cultivator, and begin as soon as possible after the corn Is up. By all means
use level cultivation, as it will hold moisture better, and it leaves the ground in a
better condition for the wheat crop to follow. We find that it is best to use shallow
cultivation, running very olose to the corn
when it Is small; but do not disturb the
roots after they get a start. When the corn
becomes large enough thin to two or three
stalks to the hill. We never cultivate when
wet if it is possible to avoid it, for it de
stroys the life and also makes the ground
cloddy; but if the ground is dry It should
be gone over every weelu Sou that ii stirred
frequently will hold moisture better and
will not crack open; it will also give the
air, which is our best fertilfzw, chance to
penetrate. We continue plowing until the
first or middle of July, then if the remainder of the season is favorable we certainly
will have a crop equal to our most sanguine
expectations.
Boone Co,
.   . the ground until it Is mellow and
clad rule can be given for culti vat leg corn J free from clods, as on  this  so  much  de-
Editobs Indiana Fabmeb:
No 9. Igiveyoumyexpeiienceandmode
of culture. Oar land here in Tipton connty
is principally a block sandy loam suscep
tible of easy drainage, and will almost
raise corn without rain. I raised sixty-five
bushels per acre in 1893 with very little
rain. Thorough drainage is necessary for
successful corn growing. The drains
should not be over six or eight reds apart,
according to the nature of the soil Thus
rendering tha soil friable and poms and
retaining the ammonia and nitrogen
brought down by the rain and snow and
forming humus and plant food, while the
surplus water passes off by percolation
through the tile.
Rotation Is next In successful corn culture. Clover sod for corn, sow to wheat in
the fall; then back to clover again. The
breaking should be done in the fall or
winter. Break eight or ten inohes deep;
then spread all the manure on top. By
this plan it don't require so much and wil_
go further and give better results. The
manure must be thoroughly Incorporated
into the soil with the harrow before planting.
The corn should be planted as soon as
it will do. The last week in April of the
first week In May Is the best time in this
latitude. I always check row, three feet
three inches apart eaoh way and thin to
three stalks in a hill.
As soon as the corn comes up I harrow
it over, then roll it down. This crushes
the clods and puts it In fine tilth so I can
plow close up to the corn the first time. I
use a two horse spring tooth cultivator,
which I have found to be the best implement to use in corn culture, as it leaves
the ground level. Cultivate once a week
up to the first of July, then stop. I don't
think there is anything made by plowing
corn after the 4th of July.
Good seed is necessary in successful corn
growing. Without gocd seed you cannot
expect a good crop. My time for saving
seed corn Is when I, crib the corn. By this
plan  I  get the very best ears.   When I
shell for planting I pick it over again. So
I get the very best. Some go in the field
and gather seed before the corn Is matured.
This causes it to deteriorate and makei the
corn small.
Tipton Co.
Institutes
BOONE COUNTY.
Editobs Indiana Fabheb:
Our Farmer's Institute on January 25th
and 26 th was a grand success. The attendance in spite of the cold, bad weather waa
good; the average for each session being
about 6C0. Chas A Polk, a cousin of the
canning faotory king, gave valuable instruction to the institute and to the stockholders of the new canning factory company here as to coltllvating and handling
products. A local institution was held at
Thorntown Feb. 16, and one will be beld at
at Zionsville, March 2d. All Interested
in institute work are cordially invited to attend. Thomas S. Stevenson of
Lebanon was made president for the en-
suing year, and R J. Rlner, of Advance
secretary. The butter exhibit was exceedingly good in point of quality and quantity, several packages scoring IOO, and
some handsome premiums were offered by
our merchants*for the best. This feature
of our Institute is growing in popular
favor and is the means of Improving the
quality of butter generally over the' county* '___'"        R. J R.
KOSCIUSCO CO.
Editobs Indiixa Fabmkb :
What appropriation of ?5,000 by the State
of Indiana can  show as immediate and
ever increasing benefits,  not only to the
farmers but to the State at large, as  that
for farmers'.lnstltutes?   In comparing the
present management, the results attained
and the expenditure of public funds, of
the Stat* s that are public-spirited enough
to foster farmers' Institutes, Indiana  has
no reason to blush.   If we need additional
legislation to perfest our   system,   we
should have It, and if our efficient superintendent, Prof. W. C.  Latta needs more
money to creditably carry on the work, he
should have it.   Any legislation  contem.
plating a curtailment of our present ap.
propriation, might very aptly be called
"an aot for  retrogression."   Any needed
legislation  for the better   management,
or   additonal   appropriations  for   a better prosecution of the  Farmers'  Institute work could be suggested by our present State Superintendent,  who owing to
his interest  in, and knowledge of   the
work, Is best,qualified to  judge what Is
necessary to keep our State,  along this
line, at the head of the principal agrloul.
tural States of the Union.   I might add
tbat  "outside" or "foreign" instructors
employed by the superintendent should
be well grounded In the latest scientific researches affect iDg the topics they present,
letting the  common   sense,   observing,
home workers work out and present the
details affecting their Immediate interests
and of most praotlcal value in their particular localities.
No statement should be made by either
the home or foreign instructors that cannot be adequately backed up by well es-
tabllshed facts. Sometimes assertions are
made which are accepted by the uninformed, and the more extravagant the
more readily accepted, and when, after
sad expsrlence, they wake up to the fact
that common sense is better than faith in
farming, they feel inclined to cuss the
Farmers' Institutes.
The objection that an appropriation, for
Farmers' Institutes is a "donation" to the
farmer, or is "class legislation" can be met
in a few years, if the provisions of the law
are judiciously used.wlth the proof that the
farmers are producing more and better
food, and the no-farmer is getting better
and cheaper foCd, hence every citizen of
the State becomes a member of thebene-
faclary class. e. F. Diehi,.