52 • MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



INDIAN CORN— FROM A PRACTICAL FARMER'S POINT OF 



VIEW. 



(P, E. Crabtree, Ilannon, Mo.) 



There is much more in corn growing than merely the consideration 

 of dollars and cents involved therein. From the very nature of the 

 plant, its pliability, the elasticity of its habits and requirements under 

 varied conditions, it offers a most interesting field of conquest to the am- 

 bition of an energetic person through the realization of improvement in 

 habits and development in features pertaining to its growing period, and 

 the final victory of achievement in the nature of shelled corn passed 

 over the stales. 



I will touch briefly on some of the essentials of successful corn 

 growing and I will ask the audience to bear with me should some of my 

 experiences not coincide with yours, and will state that my place of op- 

 eration and my field of observation is located in the southwestern quar- 

 ter of the State of Missouri. My work has been carried on exclusively 

 on a light, sandy soil that does not naturally produce clover or even 

 nourish it when planted. However, the cow pea is a leguminous plant 

 to which our soil bids welcome. 



Fertility. — I will only touch lightly on this subject, as it is more 

 properly covered in another lecture. Suffice it to say that the richer the 

 soil the better, up to the point where the corn plant shows a tendency to 

 sucker and to produce smut, then desist in further supply of fertility ex- 

 cept in the way of replenishment. Do not, however, lose an opporunity 

 to constantly add humus, in some form, to the soil, and thus keep it 

 loose and friable, that moisture may be retained from one shower to 

 another, and thus hold the available fertility in soluble form constantly. 



Soil Preparation. — Although the "early bird" story is usually appli- 

 cable to the matter of planting corn, one should not stir the soil when 

 muddy. It is worse than time lost, as it interferes very materially with 

 tlie tending of the crop later in the season. Plow as early in the season 

 as it is possible to find the soil in the proper condition for stirring. Plow 

 moderately deep and do a good smooth job, seeing to it that it is all cut 

 and turned. Fall plowing is still better in this locality where such is 

 possible, but at any rate the plowing should invariably be done long 

 enough before cropping time to permit a few good soaking rains to 

 settle and firm it as much as possible — the more the better at the bottom 

 of the furrow. 



