TT1K IRRIGATION AGE. 



28 9 



CORN BY IRRIGATION. 



Corn is a serai-drouth crop in the lands 

 of irrigation, but the application of abund- 

 ant water at all seasons, from planting to 

 harvesting, will not increase the yield. 

 The best corn growers I have met through- 

 out the west claim that two periods of irri- 

 gation are all the crop will stand without 

 materially reducing the quality and quan- 

 tity, and my experience has proA r en the as- 

 sertion correct. The flint varieties may 

 be planted in most sections of the irriga- 

 ted domain any time from April to Aug- 

 ust, and if properly cultivated, will yield 

 abundantly. I have seen two good crops 

 of King Philip grown in the same land, 

 both maturing and yielding well each crop, 

 having but one irrigation. The man who 

 did this extraordinary Avork informed me 

 that he had harvested ninety bushels from 

 one acre, near Salt Lake City, the only ir- 

 rigation being while the stalks were in tas- 

 sel and forming the ears. 



The land intended for corn should be 

 well plowed, thoroughly harrowed and 

 leveled and the furrows marked out and 

 water run through several days before 

 planting. This gives sufficient moisture 

 for germinating the seed and starting the 

 plants to growing quickly. The short va- 

 rieties may be planted three feet apart 

 either way, or closer, with two . to four 

 stalks in a hill. A shovel is an excellent 

 tool for planting if a regular corn planter 

 is not obtainable, and from four to six in- 

 ches the depth covered, if the soil is of a 

 suitable character. When the plants show 

 along the row, cultivation should begin, 

 and the best implement for this is a smajl 

 toothed ciiltivator, arranged to cut shallow 

 and close to the corn without disturbing the 

 roots or covering the stalks. The field 

 must be kept free of weeds and the soil 

 stirred three or four times, without hilling 

 until the tassels begin to show. 



During the hot noondays the corn blades 

 will twist up and look like the drouth has 

 overcome the stalks, but do not be in a hur- 

 ry to put on the water. If the blades open 

 at night and the ends are still green the 



corn will be all right. When the tassels 

 begin to show and the silks are in sight let 

 the corn have plenty of water, but do not 

 allow the water to soak up or run around 

 the stalks, above the surface. The very 

 earliest and latest varieties will always give 

 the best satisfaction because the tasseliug 

 period comes just before or after -the hot 

 drouthy days of August, when if irrigated 

 the sun will generally parch the blossoms 

 and thereby prevent proper pollenation. 

 I have planted rows side by side, early, late 

 and medium, and watched the results with 

 much interest. There is no doubt but that 

 the hot days will cut short a crop just tas- 

 seliug, especially if it is irrigated. 



Some successful corn raisers irrigate 

 twice after the tassels show, stopping when 

 the corn is fully formed in the ear. The 

 water is turned in furrows near each row 

 and left to run until thoroughly soaked 

 through the ridge containing the stalks. 

 In some land an hour or two is enough 

 time for this soakage, while in the gravel 

 and lava formation of many mountain 

 slopes, the water may be changed once in 

 twelve hours and the roots not get too 

 much moisture. If irrigated too early the 

 corn turns yellow and many outside hills 

 fail to make any kind of ears, while the 

 middle of the field will contain long, slen- 

 der stalks with plenty of fodder, but half 

 filled cojbs. The corn roots of an over ir- 

 rigated field ball up so that a hard wind 

 will blow over the stalks, but where irriga- 

 tion is delayed until the proper time, the 

 strong brace roots, formed above ground 

 and noticeable in a dry season of the ( rain- 

 belt countries will be formed and the corn 

 will yield profusely. 



INCREASING THE SQUASH YIELD. 



The squash is a most valuable farm and 

 garden product, which can be used in sev- 

 eral ways as food for man and beast, and 

 sold at good figures from the time of ripen : 

 ing until the following spring. An acre 

 planted four feet apart either way and 

 cared for properly will yield more feed for 

 cows and hogs than a similar area planted 



