Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / April 22, 1909, edition 1 / Page 5
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Tiuirs THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER. 1 day, April 22, 1909. Yield Doubled, Profits Increased Fold. . i That is Vhat the Demonstration Methods Did for Iredell Coun ty Corn Growers Last Year Raise Your Own Corn "This ; Year. Three How to Make a Good Crop of Corn Well Broken iLnd, Ja. Well-Prepared Seed Bed, Good Seed and Thorough1 Cultivation Are Essential. Messrs. Editors: The following is cnmmarv of the result of farmers co-operative demonstration work in Iredell County for the year laus: Total demonstrations on corn 53, and each demonstration is reduced to the nroduct of one acre. The num ber of bushels grown on the 53 acres was 1.961. making, an average yield nF 37 bushels per acre. In making up these reports the yield of an acre cultivated in the ordinary way was included, and the total yield of 56 acres was 970 bushels, or an average of 1 8 bushels per acre. This shows a difference of 19 bushels per acre in favor of demonstration methods The average cost of .producing a bushel of corn under demonstration methods is found to be 2 4 cents, and that by the ordinary or common way is 34 cents, showing a' difference of ten cents per bushel in favor of the better method. Following up the comparison a little further, we find the following facts: The 37 bushels at 24 cents would cost $8.88, and 37 bushels at 70 cents, market price, would be worth $25.90. showing a clear gain of $17 02. On the other hand, 18 bush p.Is at 3 4 cents would cost $6.12 and would bring on the market $12.60, showing a clear gain of $6.48 and a difference in net gain in favor of dem onstration methods of $10.54. Say. a farmer cultivates in the ordinary wav 40 acres in corn and is rewarded with the average yield of 18 bushels ner acre, he would have 720 bushels of corn that would have cost him $244.80, and he could sell the same corn for $504.00, and make a net nrofit of $259.20. That looks pretty well, but let another farmer, neighbor to the above, with the same quality of soil take 20 acres and prepare and cultivate on the intensive plan. He will gather from the 20 acres 740 lmfthPls of corn at a cost of $177.60. If he sells his corn, it will bring him $518.00. and a net profit on the 20 acres of $340.40. It will, therefore, be seen that 20 acres produces 20 bushels more corn than the 40 acres and at a cost of $67.20 less, and at a profit of $81.20 greater, or a net difference of $148.40 in favor or tne 20 acres. This, however, is only the annarent difference, as there are 20 acres of land to be used for other nnrnoses. It could be sown in peas or clover or pastured with cattle and thus gather nitrogen for the next cron. It would be far better for the farmer to let it grow a crop of weeds than to cultivate it, if the above fig ures are true: and I know they are true, for I have gathered them with the greatest of care and made sepa rate calculations for each acre, count ing every item of cost, and allowing one-third the product of each acre for rent of land. In a' few more years the present ' average vield of corn in our good '- county is going to be doubled, and some time our average yield will be three, or four times what it is today When every farmer learns to read more and studv his soil, plant food, nlant , erowth. and with plant growth . the growing and feeding of live stock, he will be reaching the point where ' his farm will grow richer, his bank - account larger, his family happier - and more contented and hlmseii De a man he can lift his own hat to in respect. r E. S. MILLSAPS. Iredell Co., N. C. report is certainly encouraging: but it seemed to us that he ! figured the cost of all the corn too! low, so we wrote him, asking for his basis of calculation. In his reply he said: You will doubtless note that no account is taken of the rough feed. that is, the fodder and shucks, or the stover where the corn was shredded. I assumed that the rough feed would be sufficient for saving the crop, and I think so still. It would not market the crop, perhaps, but the price, 70 cents, may be had at thelcrib without any expense of marketing. The cost as I figured it, was for preparing the land and cultivating the crop. I stopped at that point, and for the purpose of comparison it is fair to both crops or methods of cultivation. Bu Dr.,S A. Knapp. It is impossible to lay jdown rules applicable to all climates, soils and conditions; hence goodf judgment should always be used in application very light winter should, be disced udes all fer- one-third of The expense account inc tilizers used and allows crop for rent of land. "I think this was fair to both methods, and if I had taken into the account the saving of the crop, rough feed and all, the calculation would have been much longer and more complex. That would have shown still to the advantage of the demon stration work as the extra feed was worth much more." j One vital feature neglected in both Mr. Millsap's and Mr. Hudson's re ports is the draft on the plant food in the soil; but, taking everything into consideration, here is proof pos itive, it seems to us, that we can, not only greatly increase our average yields, of corn, but can also greatly decrease the cost per bushel. That is, after all, the important thing; and the co-operative demonstration work, in showing us how to do this, has done a work of the greatest importance. Certainly it needs no further ar gument or demonstration to convince any farmer that he can raise corn for less than it will cost him to buy it next winter. Then let every reader see that he raises his own supply, at least of any instructions. The following suggestions can generally! be follow ed with profit: I I 1. We prefer deep fall breaking (plowing) for corn. 1 I 2. It should be done with a disc or sub-soil plow so as not to j bring to the surface too much of the un-aired subsoil. 3. In sections of rainfall the field or harrowed at once1 after breaking. but where the winter rains are abun dant the breaking should be left in the furrow. - t tj 4. If no fall breakingj was done, commence as early as conditions per mit in the spring; break 8 to 10 inches deep with a disc j or subsoil plow and cross plow once with the same implements, i ?i 5. Then, whether fall) or spring broken, work the land with disc or harrow and continue till the soil, is fine as powder. Repeat jthe; process just before planting. -Pulverizing with the harrow should be! about four inches deep. Bedding Up and good drainage on loamy soils, flat planting is the better. In either case the seed bed should be thorough ly pulverized. ' Delay planting till safe from frost. Distance Between Rows. For corn, if land will not make large ears on every stalk when standing 20 inches apart in the row, rows being four feet apart, it should be summer fallowed and crop of sor ghum and cowpeas turned under. There is more waste of labor on poor corn fields in the South than on any other crop. Test the seed for germination. A box with garden soil in it will an swer. Place in a warm room. Plant Shallow. The main causes of so many , poor stands are a poor seed bed, bad seed and deep planting. Planting from i to 1 inch deep is better than deeper irk most soils and climates, and the seed bed must be high enough not to be water soaked. A poor stand is a bad start for a good crop. Use the Tooth. .Harrow. The use of the tooth or smoothing harrow just before and immediately after planting by crossing the fur- Bedding up for corn isjalways ad-Jrows is an excellent practice; and as visable in territory of considerable soon as the corn is up you should rainfall; with lighter precipitation commence to cultivate immediately . TO THE FARMERS OF NORTH CAROLINA.! Prepare This Year for j the Census Report Next Year. 1. The crop and management of the farm this year, not of next year, will be reported in the census, as it will be taken before the crop of 1910 is produced. It is important, therefore, for those who desire to make anything like an accurate report to pay atten tion to these matters this year. Be sides the regular farm j work, you will be asked to report : number or cords of wood consumed by family or farm hands, pounds of butter, value of poultry and eggs, etc., etc. I give this notice in order to aid in getting as accurate a report as pos sible of agricultural matters. 2. T wish every farmer who raises corn and desires to improve his seed would Plant six of his best ears In six parallel rows. A bulletin on pro ducing and selecting seed will he published in July by the Depart ment of Agriculture. W. A. GRAHAM, Commissioner of Agriculture. kill idw 4 It mmmMmmw r www ftf'iTUi&MuiittU tt(Hiii.il.i... , f.... : . Editorial Comment: Mr. Millsap's If the stars should appear one night in a . thousand years, now would men believe and adore; and nreserve for many generations the f the citv of God ICUlvlilUluuvu w. which had been shown. Emerson. Paint Talks, No-Mainting Cement and Concrete Cement and concrete are bidding for popular favor as building materials! The only bar to their immediate favor is their liability to discolor and streak. Paint is their onlylsalvation. But paint even the best so often softens and becomes sticky bleaches or scales off cement. What is to be done? j j ' The whole trouble lies in the moirture and alkali in the cement. Let it stand a vear or eighteen months and there is no trouble. To artifi cial are! effective. (1) Wash the surface w.th zmc sulphatl dissolved in waier. 2) Wash it with carbonic acid water. When dry, paint with pure white lead and pure linseed oil, according to specifications which ye will send on application. Do not use sulphurijj or muriatic acids as a wash before painting and do not try to get along ith a substitute for linseed oil. Kill the alkali as ducted and use nothing but pure white lead and linseed oil paint. Write for Hbuseowner's Painting Outfit i3, Contains specifications for all kinds of painting r1 color schemes, etc. Buy of your local dialer if; possible. If he hasn't it, do not accept something else, but write our nearesi um. NATIONAL LEAD COMPANY An ffice in tacti of the following cities: Vnrk Boston 1 Bnffalcj Cincinnati Chicago Cleveland NeW Y S? LOS? i John T.ewi 4 Bro. Co. Philadelphia) (National Lead fc Oil Company. Pittsbnrg) II 1
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 22, 1909, edition 1
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