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VOL. LVII. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MARCH 15, 1902. NO. 11 Cultivatiner the Com Crop from Start to Finish. [Head before the KeeetrlOaVkal County Cum Growers'Associatioii, Saturday, April 6th, 1M1, by K. F. Diehl. The object of corn cultivation is three iold: To destroy weeds, to make available latent soil fertility and to conserve moisture. In a wet season- the main object is to kill weeds. Don't forget that weeds rob the soil of plant food and moisture that the corn will need, and need badly in a dry season. If the fore part .•I the season be wet, and the latter part dry, especially at earing time, which is usually the case, the damage from weeds may equal half the value of the corn crop. The time to kill weeds is before they become such in a damaging sense—immediately after they germinate. A rain followed by warm sunshine furnishes the ideal conditions for weed seed germination, and also the best possible conditions for killing them by thoroughly stilting the surface at the right time— jr.st as soon as the ground crumbles nicely when stirred. Remember too, this is the best time for making the moisture-saving mulch. If I can impress the importance of an after a-rain cultivation on the minds at farmers so forcibly that they will not miss an opportunity of stirring the soil as soon- as it is workable, I will feel repaid for my paper, and they will be wel' paid, too, for they can thus attain all three objects of corn cultivation at one operation. When the corn is small this can be done ouickly and effectively with a weeder, nnd if you don't use the weeder at such a time it isn't of much practical value as a corn cultivator. If weeds get a good start ii n implement must be used that will cut [■nd cover, and if operated to thoroughly destroy the weeds will do the young corn much damage. The adage, "A stitch in time saves nine," is never more applicable than in corn and potato culture. The question of conserving and saving soil moisture is becoming a vital one among fanners. The more rapid drying of the soil after rains than formerly in this part of the country may be attributed to a comlina;ion of causes, <he principal of which are: Clearing of the forests and such a system of drainage as gets rid of the surface water more quickly. But at present these are regarded in the light of a necessity, hence must lie endured and dher means sought to counteract their effects. Nature has provided two ways by which the farmer can in a great measure accomplish this. First, by filling the soi' with humus or decaying vegetable matter which acts like a spong>; in both absorbing aud holding moisture. Second, by providing a mulch of vegetable matter when- tver possible as nature does; or in the case of cultivated crops provide an earth mulch of loose surface soil to check the upward how and escape of soil moisture by capillarity. Probably a little explanation may be liecessary to clearly understand why a loose soil checks loss of soil moisture. Water sinks into the soil by gravity or its own weight, but a point is finally reached in the soil's saturation above the water level where all moisture above this bed of water adheres to the particles of soil, and when the surface begins to dry by evaporation this film of moisture snr- lounding the soil particles moves upward just as oil does in a lamp wick, and this upward flow is termed capillarity or movement by capillary attraction. In the case of the wick the greater the flame burning the oil, the quicker will the oil reservoir be emptied: so too, the more rapid the evaporation of moisture from ihe surface of the soil by drying winds, Ihe quicker will the supply required for normal plant growth be diminished to a point where plants suffer for necessary fcod; for tho plant's food is supplied through the water extracted from the soil by its root system and plenty of soil moisture, and this explains why mutilation of the roots should be avoided and moisture saved by proper cultivation. Every farmer knows that deep, late cultivation is detrimental to the corn, especially in a dry season, therefore don't do it, even if your father did in an earlier day when the soil was rich enough and draw water from a wide area, and developing an enormous pumping surface in its many long and broad leaves which expel the water after the plant has appropriated the food material. But too often at this critical time we have not only dry weather, but ground that has not been stirred for a few weeks and in perfect condition for wasting moisture. The farmer that can manage to stir his corn ground through wheat harvest time, especially after rains, is not the lucky man, but the prudent one. On some soils—on clay not too fine and well filled with humus—a thin crust forms after a heavy rain which in drying con- Plan of round barn and silo combined, with feeding capacity for 70 head of cattle held sufficient moisture to quickly repair such a surgical operation. The upward movement of soil moisture is only possible when the particles touch each other, and the finer and more closely packed the more perfect is the capillary action, and this condition of the soil to within five inches of the surface is necessary for the best results, to enable the moisture to rise freely and accumulate in the surface soil just above the subsoil where most of the plant food and feeding roots are found. The new doctrines of dust mulch, loose soil mulch, frequent and shallow cultivation, are based upon the theory or rather established facts, that loose soil filled with air spaces, breaks in a great measure capillary connection between the compact under soil and loose top soil. But erery rain sufficient to thoroughly wet and settle this loose soil mulch, makes capillarity perfect to the surface of the ground and this moisture passes off into the air very rapidly—a few hot, dry, windy days pumping up and dissipating an enormous amount of water, which the corn may badly need before being refreshed by another rain, hence the necessity of stirring the ground to save as much as possible of this life-giving but wasting water. The most critical period in corn growing is at earing time when it needs the most water to supply the necessary lood for growing the ear in a short time, and tracts and lies loosely on the moist soil just beneath. This forms a good mulch, and happy should the farmer be who has this kind of soil and is too busy to stir it after every rain. A Complete Feeding: Barn. Editors Indiana Fanner: With your permission and the aid of the accompanying cut I will endeavor to present for consideration what may properly be called a new idea in barn construction. To Prof. King, of the Wisconsin Experiment Station, belongs the credit of introducing the cylindrical barn, (so far as I am able to determine.) Since the first round barn was built in about 1898 a few of our most progressive farmers have v.ntnicd to try the experiment nnd so far as I can learn, are very enthusiastic in their praise. Since the experimental stage of the silo has long since past, and on account of the cylindrical shape of most silos, the round barn becomes the most easily adapted for use in r.iMS of stock barns with silo connected. By consulting the accompanying cut one can readily see how nicely the one fits the other. Among the many advantages that can be claimed for the round barn and silo combined is the convenience of feeding and caring for the stock. In the plan presented I have contemplated the extensive stock raiser, the man who will most likely for this very purpose all its former life j appreciate the arrangement. In this barn was devoted to growing a root system to 70 head of grown cattle can easily stand aud eat from one continuous manger and one man could feed this number in 30 to 40 minutes, owing to the close proximity to the cattle, and the easy access to feed, both from silo and mow. The cattle could be turned into a lot while the feed is being distributed and the floor cleaned off, or in case of severe cold weather, by a system of double gates the stock could easily be shifted fromonepoint to another, for mind you, these 70 head of cattle do not take up all the room in this barn by any means. The circular driveway admits you to all parts of the barn directly, thus making the cleaning out a very easy operation which in this case would be once per day. With a good cement floor think of the fertilizer that would get in the course of a winter's feeding. With the cylindrical plan the capacity can easily be adjusted to the requirements of small feeders as well as the most extensive ones. These barns built on a peculiar system of construction as they are, can be increased in diameter to almost any desired size, all the time reducing the cost in proportion to capacity. It will be noticed that there are no posts in this barn, and one would naturally ask how do you carry your purline plate and your great mow. This is a geometric conundrum. You suggest is it a truss work? No. Is the roof built in an arch or crown? No. The roof is a cone, so to speak. Some will ask if the cylindrical barn can be adapted to general use, in stabling horses, etc. I answer yes by building two stories, which would be more desirable for stock feeding anyway, especially if your location is on a side hill, or where you can make a grade handily. Another may ask can you mow away hay as easily as in old style barns. Yes, easier, by means of a simple circular graded track. I wish to impress any who may feel disposed to criticise the plan that in the drawing I have submitted I have intended it as strictly a cattle, or cattle and sheep barn. However, one can easily see how nicely the arrangement could be made to suit the combination plan where one wished to shelter feeding (teens, milch cows and sheep, as they would be separated by means of folding or swinging gates, as I have indicated on plan. In the plan submitted, 70 head of three- year old steers can stand and eat all at the same time, as I have allowed 20 inches for each space, which is two inches more than is usually allowed. As the cylindrical barn is a new departure in construction, I do not presume that the plan represents perfection by any means, but with the aid of practical feeders, farmers and dairymen who I hope will suggest features of improvement, I thing we can soon say the question ot stock feeding has been solved. I will be glad to answer any questions, through the "Farmer." that may present themselves to practical men, who feel interested, either on the subject of barn construction and arrangement of farm buildings of any nature. Warrington, Ind. Benton Steele. The fertility of Egyptian soil is illustrated by the fact that every one of 10,500 square miles can support 928 persons, whereas even in densely populated Belgium there are only 580 to the square mile. * -a> a m . A remarkable coincidence about the death of General Eawton was that he was killed by Filipinos under a native chief of the same name as an Apache chief fighting against whom Lawton won his spurs
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1902, v. 57, no. 11 (Mar. 15) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA5711 |
Date of Original | 1902 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-03-11 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript |
VOL. LVII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MARCH 15, 1902.
NO. 11
Cultivatiner the Com Crop from Start to
Finish.
[Head before the KeeetrlOaVkal County Cum Growers'Associatioii, Saturday, April 6th, 1M1, by K.
F. Diehl.
The object of corn cultivation is three
iold: To destroy weeds, to make available latent soil fertility and to conserve
moisture. In a wet season- the main object is to kill weeds. Don't forget that
weeds rob the soil of plant food and moisture that the corn will need, and need
badly in a dry season. If the fore part
.•I the season be wet, and the latter part
dry, especially at earing time, which is
usually the case, the damage from weeds
may equal half the value of the corn crop.
The time to kill weeds is before they become such in a damaging sense—immediately after they germinate.
A rain followed by warm sunshine furnishes the ideal conditions for weed seed
germination, and also the best possible
conditions for killing them by thoroughly
stilting the surface at the right time—
jr.st as soon as the ground crumbles nicely when stirred. Remember too, this is the
best time for making the moisture-saving
mulch. If I can impress the importance
of an after a-rain cultivation on the minds
at farmers so forcibly that they will not
miss an opportunity of stirring the soil
as soon- as it is workable, I will feel repaid for my paper, and they will be wel'
paid, too, for they can thus attain all three
objects of corn cultivation at one operation.
When the corn is small this can be done
ouickly and effectively with a weeder,
nnd if you don't use the weeder at such a
time it isn't of much practical value as a
corn cultivator. If weeds get a good start
ii n implement must be used that will cut
[■nd cover, and if operated to thoroughly
destroy the weeds will do the young corn
much damage. The adage, "A stitch in
time saves nine," is never more applicable than in corn and potato culture.
The question of conserving and saving
soil moisture is becoming a vital one
among fanners. The more rapid drying
of the soil after rains than formerly in
this part of the country may be attributed
to a comlina;ion of causes, |
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