VOL. XXX.
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INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MARCH 9, 1895.
NO. 10.
GOBN OULTUEEr ""
Oub pbjze essays—[ rhe nnmber ol
easayii published refer to the order of publication, and not to the awards. The committee -will not make the decision until
all essays are published.]
' PRIZE ESSAY NO. 10.
The cultivation of oorn depends to a considerable extent on the kind of soil and its
preparation, as well as on the season.
When the ground gets warm In early spring
and Ib not wet nor too dry, plow to the
depth of eight or ten inches, if the soil is
that deep, but not deeper than the soil, especially In clay land. If the land Is rioh,
well drained and has not been trampled lt
will now break up loose and mellow, so
one harrowing or dragging will be suffl
dent to put the ground in the proper condition for p'anting, which should be done
immediately, before the sun or beating
rains make the ground hard. Mark the
field. off both ways, three and a half feet
apart. Plant three grains of oorn In each
cross. By planting while the ground is
fresh broken, moist and loose, the oorn
will corns np ln four or five days and grow
rapidly and get an even start with the
weeds, which must be kept down. As
soon as the corn gets high enough to be
seen In the row, cultivation must commence.   Plow with a small shovel plow or
~oultIvatSf ,'deap and a*j close to the corn as
possible both ways, which will loosen the
ground all around each hill. The ground
must be kept loose and mellow so the air
and water can penetrate to the roots. In a
dry season the moisture can oome up from
below and in a wet season  the excess of
* water can sink below and not drown the
corn. The third and fourth cultivation the
same as the first and second, except not so
close to the corn. The ground should be
stirred thoroughly between the rows. The
fifth and last plowing is to ba done with a
large plow so as to hill up the oorn slight
ly. If the land is inclined to be wet, or if
it is a very wet season, the last plowing
can be done with a small turning plow to
great advantage, hilling up the corn well
so the water will drain from the hill. Shallow cultivation will keep the weeds down
and will do very well if the soil is deep,
loose and mellow, and continue so.
Owen Co.
PJ3JZE ESSAY Nt . 11.
We are located in the northeast corner
oounty of the State. We have a variety of
soils here, bnt ours Is principally clay
loam with clay subsoil. I prefer a olover
sod that has been thoroughly drained by
tile to plow for corn. If there is any manure to go on the corn ground haul it on
as soon as the hay or cloverseed is off and
spread It. Plow the ground in the spring
as early ai the season will permit, about
six or eight inohes deep. Abiut the first
of May, if the weather will permit, thoroughly drag and pulverize the ground. I
use a plank 14 feet long, three Inches thick
and eight inches wide to finish before
planting, a hole being bored in each end,
with a chain attached. Then hitch the
horses to the oenter of the chain then stand
on the plank It will shove some dirt ln
front of it and fill all h lies and pulverize
the small clods. I prefer this plan to a
roller, as I have used both. It leaves the
ground in splendid condition for planting.
Then mark cut both ways three feet and
nine inches apart with a marker that
makes four marks and a guide to follow
back. We plant with hand planters, about
one and one-half leches deep and from
two to four kernels in a hill. In about a
week or 10 days after planting drag with a
sharp tooth drag 10 feet wide with a lsver
to set the teeth slanting back. Straddle
each row'. This will drag the ground over
twioe and the horses do not tramp on the
hills.- If the gronnd is hard so that one
dragging does not cover the marks then
drag cross ways. As soon as it is up so as
to be seen .in rows cultivate with a two-
horse cultivator abont three or three and
one half inches deep the first and second
time through. After that cultivate more
shallow. The spring tooth cultivator is
good, as it leaves the ground level, which
is a good plan in a dry season.   If there
onr fathers plowed the ground, laid off and
tended with the same plow, by turning the
furrow away from the corn the first two
plowings and turning the furrows to the
corn the last two plowing?. It was not to
be wondered that the virgin soil only
yielded a scanty supply for the wants of
the many. On I he other hand will the effects of good manuring or fertilizers make
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ODB PBEMITJM MASON J_   HAMLIN OBGAN, TO HE GIVEN AWAY ATBIL 1, 1895.
OF N   W   BBYANT * CO , INDIANAPOLIS
PUBCHASBD
comes a rain get in the corn field as soon
as possible, with all the help at hand, as It
is important to stir the ground after a
rain as soon as it can be done, to prevent a
orust forming and to aid in holding moisture. Cultivate as often as possible until
wheat harvest. If a heavy rain oomes
about that time cultivate both ways with
a one horse cultivator then lay by.
Steuben Co.
PRIZE ESSAY NO. 12.
The main thing in cultivating corn is to
cultivate after rains as Boon as the ground
is dry enough. Then it will hold moisture. One day makes quite a difference.
If it does not rain and there's prospect for
drouth, cultivate once a week. As soon as
roots spread out cultivate shallow- After
it is well up. horse high, I Blmply rub the
ground with a wooden "concern," but it
should be done just the right time, after
rains, when the «oll pulverizes nicely. In
a dry time I do the same about once a
week.   I know it prevents evaporation,
Ripley Co.
- ,PBIZE ESSAY NO  13,
For the culture of corn different soil. re
quire different treatment to obtain the best
results, and the culture It would almost
seem has reached perfection as compared
with the culture of fifty years ago, when
drilling. Experience has shown that on
level land drilling has made the best yield,
where the ground is not infested with foul
seeds, snch as are found in prairie or bottom land, or in other words hill foul
ground and drill olean ground. If
ground is oloddy roll if loose and harrow
as soon as oorn Is up. Take more pains in
first plowing than all the rest, and don't
fail to pull all weeds that stand in the hill
where they can't be covered.
A little weed will soon get to be a big
weed. And don't let the time between
plowings be so long as to allow the ground
to get sad or pasked. "Plow deep while
sluggards sleep, and you'll have oorn to
sell and keep."
Greene Co.
a better showing tban on clay land. Ma-
nure if hauled out In winter or early spring
should in no case be scattered until ready
to plow under, as the strength is lost to a
great extent by exposure to rains, snows
and freezing. Plowing, planting or culti
vating when too wet Is an in j ary to the
lard, and will tell its own story all through
ths summer and perhaps for years to come.
As a general thing there are more failures
from too early plowing and planting than
late planting. An old saying is "theearly
bird gets the worm " This will not always do with corn raising. In short, wait
until the ground is In good order and then
push and keep on pushing until the crop
is made. It is a fact well known to all
practical farmers, that the longer the crop
Is growing the sounder will be the corn,
while late planted will in most cases be
loose and of a chaffy nature, and will seldom ever weigh out with early planting.
In this latitude for clay land from the 10th
to the 20rh of May is plenty early. Sand
loam, 1st to 10th. If ground is cloddy in
plowing don't wait to finish plowing the
field before harrowing, but harrow, drag,
or roll each land as soon as done plowing,
and so continue until done with the field
and ready for planting; and to insure deep
soil plow and onltirate deep. Various
theories have been advanced for and against
PBIZE ESSAY NO. 14.
In a late "issue of your valuable paper
you ask yourreaders for some botes on
best mode of tending corn, and as my
crop in this season of drouth, averaged
more than 75 bushels per acre, your readers may relish some of my pet whims. In
the first place good soil and good seed are
indispensable requisites to a first class
crop.
The next step Is thorough and deep plowing, not less than seven, and eight or
nine inches is better, and this rulo will apply to all the diversified soils of Indiana,
frcm the Ohio river to the Wabash. Never
work your land when you oan form a ball
when rolled in the hand, by reason of
moisture. I then harrow to a smooth seed
bed, and then I use a drill made at Liberty, Ind , which furrows and plants two
rows, same as check row planters, at a
through, observing always to make a good,
deep furrow. And right here, let me say,
Is the rock that has wrecked millions ot
bushels of corn, everywhere that corn Is
raised; as positively everywhere, more
corn will grow planted in a furrow than
on the surface, by the sled runners process. As soon as I am done planting if
my land is thoroughly dry, I roll it lf
if damp, run over it with an A harrow,
with front well weighted down, so the
frame will crowd the brink of the furrow
away from furrow. This may be done as
well before the corn Is up as later.
Then I take double plow cultivator,
with the twisting shovel (I do not use boll
tongues) next the corn, set to throw all
the dirt possible away from the oorn.
This would incline the plow to crowd into
the row, if you did not set the outside
shove 1 j to throw the dirt the other way.
To balance It arrange the fende-s to keep
outside shovels from covering up the oorn
and let them in Ihe ground to the capacity
of your team. Drive slow and plow close.
After this I cultivate twice, then hack out
such weeds as may remain, acd my crop
Is tended. I would further eay if you
wish to raise the best crop yonr land is
capable of, the following rules are indispensable. 1st. Thorough and deep plowing. 21. If you live in Indiana and
north of Indianapolis, plant Learning or
Whitney's Hybrid oorn, if s3uth of Indianapolis and land Is thin, plant as above,
but on good land a larger and later variety may ba preferable. 3d Drill your
corn in a deep furrow, say four to five
inches deep. Then tend as above or with
little gang spring shovels and close to
corn at first plowing.
Grant Co.
Chicago had fire last week in the street
car stables in whioh 110 cars were burned.
«   m .
At Hamiltion, Ont, Clara K. broke the
world's Ice trotting record for the distance.   She mad e five miles in 15:16 U.
Removal of props in the ooal mines in
the suburbs of Springfield, 111, have
caused huge fissures to open and rendered
a number of houses untenantable.