SCIENCE IN THE CULTIVATION OF CORN.
The object of the present chapter will be to point out the principles
concerned in the more immediate acts connected with the cultivation of
corn. In so doing in the present case, as in the discussion of the
preceding subjects, it may not be out of place here to state that it has
not, nor will it be, our object to enter into the every-day practical
details of crop-management, but to dwell more particularly upon those
points in cultivation which may be said to belong more especially to the
science of the subject.
This chapter, then, will be more especially devoted to the consideration
of the three following subjects:—
1st. On the uses of special manures for corn crops.
2nd. On the quality and quantity of corn to be used for seed.
3rd. On the period for harvesting corn.
1st. _On the Uses of Manures._—It is pretty generally agreed that
special manuring for corn, when grown in the ordinary shifting crop
system, is positively injurious, and more truly so, if farmyard dung be
employed. Still, on our own farm we were over-persuaded to give a
dressing of rotted dung to some wheat. As the previous crop, turnips,
had all but failed, we yielded on being told that it was a common Dorset
custom, but, fortunately, only to the extent of a few acres down the
middle of the field, on which part, at harvest, the main of the crop had
fallen to the ground, with the affection known as knee-bent. There was
plenty of straw, not at all good; but the yield of plump grains can
hardly be half of those of the other parts of the field.
As a general rule, we have never observed special manuring to be useful
except as top-dressings in early spring, at which time soot, or, better
still, a mixture of soot and guano, may be sown on most wheat crops to
advantage, and more especially where the young plant has been injured by
the slug or the wire-worm, as in these cases the lower joint and the
winter root are destroyed. If, then, the young plant be at this time
stimulated with the mixture as advised, and the crop be afterwards
rolled, we supply nutriment just in the form that it can be readily
assimilated, the injured plants send out new roots from the second
joint, and begin a fresh life, whilst the uninjured ones push out new
buds—_stolons_—and all grow the better, because the roller has aided in
firmly fixing the plants in the ground.
There have been those who would tell us that manure can be best used to
wheat by subjecting the seed to various steeps; but we need hardly stop
to question the folly of the assertions which from time to time
re-appear, both at home and abroad, upon this point.
Thus far the subject of manures has been treated as for wheat as a
shifting crop; but this crop has been grown year after year on the same
soil, and, in some cases, without an apparent diminution in quantity or
quality. One instance that came under our own observation was in
Gloucestershire, where a cottager had grown wheat on the same plot of
ground for thirteen years, and, for aught I know, it may still be
continued. Hence the subsoil was _Lias shale_; but it was well drained
and cultivated as a garden, the manure employed being the contents of
the garden-house.
In cases of this kind, an annual application of manure is absolutely
necessary; and we are happy to find that different manures and their
effects have been experimented upon and duly noted, _for the same
plots_, during a period of no less than twenty years, and that by such
careful and reliable inquirers as J. B. Lawes, Esq., F.R.S., and Dr.
Gilbert, F.R.S.; full details of the results of whose labours upon this
subject will be found in Vol. XXV. of the _Journal of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England_, from which we have extracted some of
the following general conclusions as to average yield and weight of corn
for the lengthened periods quoted:—
1. TABLE OF RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSHEAD, BY MESSRS. LAWES AND
GILBERT.
+------+--------------------------+------------+---------+----------+
| | | | Average | |
|Plots.| Manures used every year. | Average. | weight | Years. |
| | | |per bush.| |
+------+--------------------------+------------+---------+----------+
| | |Bush. Pecks.| | |
| 1 |Unmanured every year | 16 1 | 57·9 | 20 years,|
| | | | | 1844-63. |
| 2 |Ammonia salts alone | 24 1¾ | 57·6 | 19 years,|
| | | | | 1845-63. |
| 3 |14 tons Farmyard manure | 32 1¾ | 60·0 | 20 years,|
| | | | | 1844-63. |
| 4 |Unmanured every year | 15 2 | 56·5 |} |
| 5 |Mixed mineral manure alone| 18 1¾ | 57·9 |} |
| 6 |Ammonia salts alone | 22 2½ | 55·9 |}12 years,|
| 7 {|Ammonia salts and mixed } | | |}1852-63. |
| {|mineral manure } | 36 1½ | 58·4 |} |
| 8 |14 tons Farmyard manure | 35 1½ | 59·3 |} |
+------+--------------------------+------------+---------+----------+
A glance at this table shows us the wonderful results of _continuous_
manuring for the soil operated upon; we might, however, expect that,
though the general conclusions would probably not greatly vary, yet that
there would not be absolute uniformity in these respects in different
soils and districts.
2. _On the Quality and Quantity of Seed-corn._—It seems to be generally
concluded that a thin seed, from poorer soil, should be preferred for
land of a better quality; but our own experience would lead us to look
for seed from as great a change of soil as possible, and to procure
therefrom not a poor, but as good a sample as we could. We should,
however, look for our seed, not from a richer soil or a warmer climate,
but the reverse. Oats, for example, as previously shown, degenerate,
even to wild ones, if the poor seed be brought from a poor, cold soil,
to be cultivated in land still poorer. We, however, on our farm, sowed
oats during the past season weighing 48 lb. per bushel on a sandy soil;
and, although our return was not so large in bushels as though we had
sown black oats, yet their weight was but just under that of the seed.
Now, these oats were from Canada, and, no doubt, the warm climate of the
west of England suited them as to change.
As regards barley, we prefer a good sample for seed, if it be of
home-growth; at the same time, very thin samples from Russia, or the
States, often do well. Last season, we sowed some American barley of so
poor a quality, that it was impossible to tell its name, but which gave
for 50 acres an average yield of 40 bushels per acre, so even and plump,
that only 28 sacks of “tailing” were separated, and the bulk—good
Chevallier barley—was equal to any in the market.
In cultivating wheat, climate must ever be considered, as only in warm
situations can the finest samples of white wheats be grown. Upland cold
positions are suitable for red wheats, and so are undrained lowlands;
still, good farming will render it possible to grow white wheats where,
before drainage and other ameliorating processes, such was impossible.
As regards the quantity to be sown per acre, it will be seen that the
margin is sufficiently wide, if we say that it lies between half a peck
and half a quarter. In garden cultivation, with deep digging, and in the
absence of weeds, birds, or insects, where you can choose your time for
every operation, dibble in a seed in a place, the minimum quantity may
suffice, as good crops have been got from a very small quantity of seed;
but garden experimenters rather too positively lay down the law, when
they tell the farmer that this thin seeding will do equally well on
broad acres, where every operation is circumscribed by circumstances.
Where there is so much to do, you cannot always get everything done at
the right season, even if the soil were favourable for so doing; and the
period at which you get your land ready for the seed, and the time of
sowing it, makes a wide difference. But there is another point of
even—if possible—greater importance; namely, the _quality_ of the seed.
Now, on our farm we always ascertain the germinating power of every
sample of seed before sowing; and from this, as well as from the results
of numerous experiments on this subject, we have arrived at the
conclusion, that there are immense differences in this respect, which
cannot possibly be made out at sight, but can only be ascertained
experimentally. To make this matter clear, we append a table (2) of the
results of experiments on this point upon no less than forty-two
samples, which were tried in 1863.
Now, these experiments showed a want of germinating power, in some of
the samples, of more than 50 per cent., and in the 42 samples an average
of 24·5 per cent.; from which it will be seen that sometimes the thick
sower is not the thick seeder, and his failure of a crop is not always
due to slugs and wireworms.
These experiments were published in the _Agricultural Gazette_, and they
evoked some remarks from a learned divine, so unfair and uncandid, as
only to be excused by the nature of his professional education and modes
of thought. Now, when this gentleman affected to believe that these
things could not be so, and that with him every seed germinated, we
could only conclude that the days of miracles had not quite ceased; but
as, in later numbers of the _Gazette_, his opinions have been somewhat
modified in this respect, we yet think him capable of riding a hobby too
hard, though not until the pace has thrown him down and broken his knees
will he own it.
2. TABLE OF THE GERMINATION OF WHEAT.
+---+---------------------+-------+-------+-----+------+------------------+
|No.| Label. |Weight | Price |Came |Failed| Remarks. |
| | Wheats of 1862. | per | per | up | per | |
| | |bushel.|bushel.|pr. |cent. | |
| | | | |cent.| | |
+---+---------------------+-------+-------+-----+------+------------------+
| | | | s. d. | | | |
| | | | | | |}These are six |
| 1 |Tasmania | 66· | ... | 46 | 54 |}samples from the |
| 2 | Ditto | 60·5 | ... | 8 | 92 |}the International|
| 3 |Tuscan, from Victoria| 68· | ... | 94 | 6 |}Exhibition of |
| 4 | Ditto ditto | 63· | ... | 78 | 22 |}1862, to which |
| 5 | Ditto ditto | 67· | ... | 90 | 10 |}they were for- |
| 6 |Tasmania | 60· | ... | 30 | 70 |}warded by various|
| | | | | | |}colonists. |
| | | | | | |Taken by us; |
| 7 | Ditto | 59·5 | ... | 28 | 72 |probably the same |
| | | | | | |as No. 6. |
| 8 |Talavera | 66· | ... | 98 | 2 |}Four samples from|
| 9 |Spalding | 63·3 | ... | 94 | 6 |}Hainhault Farm— |
|10 |Thick-set Rough Chaff| 65· | ... | 100 | None |}amongst the best |
|11 |Morton’s Blood Straw | 62·6 | ... | 94 | 6 |}that have come |
| | | | | | |}before us. |
|12 |Hallett’s Pedigree | 62·9 | ... | 78 | 22 |Communicated. |
|13 |Creeping Wheat | 66·5 | ... | 98 | 2 | Ditto. |
|14 |{Bland’s Giant } | 59· | ... | 96 | 4 | Ditto. |
| |{Prolific } | | | | | |
|15 |Fuller’s Red | 56·8 | ... | 98 | 2 |A poor grain from |
| | | | | | |the Cotteswolds. |
| | | | | | |{Samples taken by |
| | | | | | |{us from Cirences-|
|16 |Red Straw Lammas | 56·8 | 7 0 | 82 | 18 |{ter Market. No. |
|17 |Hallett’s Pedigree | 64·6 | 10 6 | 88 | 12 |{21 not a seed |
|18 |Browick | 58·5 | 6 6 | 88 | 12 |{wheat; it con- |
|19 |Red Chaff White | 59· | 6 6 | 78 | 22 |{tains 76,800 |
|20 |Free-trade | 59·5 | 6 3 | 88 | 12 |{seeds of corn |
|21 |Russian | 55· | 5 7½| 32 | 68 |{cockle and 64,000|
| | | | | | |{seeds of rye in |
| | | | | | |{the bushel. |
|22 |Burwell | 58·5 | 8 0 | 18 | 82 |} |
| | | | | | |}Communicated |
|23 |Rough Chaff Talavera | 60·5 | 9 0 | 90 | 10 |}from a well-known|
| | | | | | |}seedsman. |
|24 |Talavera | 63· | 10 0 | 38 | 62 |} |
|25 |Corner’s Rough Chaff | 62· | 10 0 | 52 | 48 |} |
|26 |Red Browick | 65· | 8 0 | 58 | 42 |} |
|27 |Chidham | 66·5 | 10 0 | 70 | 30 |} |
|28 |Lammas | 63·3 | 8 0 | 58 | 42 |} |
|29 |{Britannia, or Red} | | 8 0 | 54 | 46 |}These formed a |
| |{Thickset } | 66· | | | |}most interesting |
|30 |Red Nursery | 67· | 9 0 | 92 | 8 |}series of several|
|31 |Col. Quentin’s Giant | 68· | 9 0 | 38 | 62 |}sorts of wheat— |
|32 |Kessingland | 63·3 | 8 0 | 86 | 14 |}most of which |
|33 |April | 60·3 | 12 0 | 84 | 16 |}looked remark- |
|34 |Golden Drop | 63·3 | 8 0 | 92 | 8 |}ably well as hand|
|35 |{Shirreff’s Bearded} | 60·5 | 9 0 | 74 | 26 |}samples. |
| |{Red } | | | | |} |
|36 |Essex Rough Chaff | 66·3 | 9 0 | 96 | 4 |} |
|37 |Hunter’s White | 60· | 8 0 | 60 | 40 |}Out of condition.|
|38 |{Shirreff’s Bearded} | 63·2 | 10 0 | 96 | 4 |} |
| |{White } | | | | |} |
|39 |White Trump | 63·3 | 9 0 | 96 | 4 |} |
|40 |Grace’s White | 65· | 10 0 | 38 | 62 |} |
|41 |Hertfordshire White | 62·2 | 8 0 | 94 | 6 |} |
|42 |Hallett’s Pedigree | 66· | 10 0 | 92 | 8 |} |
+---+---------------------+-------+-------+-----+------+------------------+
3. TABLE OF THE GERMINATION OF BARLEY, 1863.
+---+----------------+------+-----+------+----------------------------+
| | |Price |Came |Failed| |
|No.| Label. | per | up | per | Remarks. |
| | |quar- | pr. |cent. | |
| | | ter. |cent.| | |
+---+----------------+------+-----+------+----------------------------+
| | | s. | | | |
| 1 |From Sherborne | 29 | 98 | 2 | } |
| 2 | „ Martock | 29 | 98 | 2 | } |
| 3 | „ Lulworth | 24 | 96 | 4 | }All market samples. |
| 4 | „ Crewkerne | 28 | 76 | 24 | } |
| 5 | „ Mr. Masters| 28 | 96 | 4 | } |
| 6 |Odessa | 24 | 96 | 4 | } |
| 7 |From Salisbury | 24 | 100 | 0 |}Salisbury is considered |
| 8 | Ditto | 24 | 96 | 4 |}one of the best places for |
| 9 | Ditto | 24 | 90 | 10 |}seed barley. The samples |
|10 | Ditto | 24 | 92 | 8 |}are mostly from the Chalk |
|11 | Ditto | 24 | 100 | 0 |}Rock. |
|12 |From Langport | 28 | 100 | 0 | } |
|13 | „ Chard | 27 | 82 | 18 | }Like most of our speci- |
|14 |Stiff-straw | 28 | 82 | 18 | }mens, market samples. |
|15 |Nottingham | 32 | 90 | 10 | } |
|16 |Chevallier | 26 | 96 | 4 | } |
|17 |From Yeovil | 26 | 70 | 30 |}This is a low-germinating |
|18 | Ditto | 26 | 70 | 30 |}series; their uniformity of|
|19 | Ditto | 26 | 84 | 16 |}price and difference in |
|20 | Ditto | 26 | 94 | 6 |}germination is remarkable. |
|21 | Ditto | 26 | 84 | 16 |} |
|22 |{Chevallier, } | | | |{Two good samples, and the |
| |{sown on farm } | 28 | 96 | 4 |{yield of the crop of fifty |
|23 |American, ditto | 28 | 100 | 0 |{acres each about 36 bush. |
| | | | | |{per acre. |
|24 | Ditto | 30 | 92 | 8 | |
|25 |New from farm, | 30 | 98 | 2 | |
| |1864 | | | | |
| | | | --- | --- | |
| | Average | | 92 | 8 |In round numbers. |
+---+----------------+------+-----+------+----------------------------+
Seeing, then, that there were such variations in the germinating powers
of wheat, we determined to try a series of experiments with barley; and
from the results (table 3), it will be seen that, though the margin is
not so wide, yet great differences occur; still, with regard to this
grain, we constantly find that in samples too thin and poor for even
the farmyard poultry to pick up, yet that much of this is capable of
germination.
Still, theory and practice confirm the assumption that in England very
much seed is wasted by being too thickly sown; and, if a farmer can get
his land well prepared and in good time, we conclude, as a matter of
practical experience, that just half the seed usually sown will be
better than the double quantity; but we should, as a rule, make a
difference of at least half a peck for each week that we were beyond the
best time of wheat-sowing in any particular district. On our own farm we
sowed four and six pecks of wheat where double the quantity had been the
rule before Christmas, and from six to eight pecks afterwards; six pecks
of barley and oats, where a sack had previously been the rule. With the
wheat and barley we were right, except in the very late-sown of the
latter, when time was only sufficient to grow a single head, and not to
allow of stooling. Here a sack would have given a better result. The
same with our oats: thin seeding caused them to run to straw; they were
on a poor sand, taller than the men who cut them; but had we doubled our
seed, we conclude we should have had shorter straw and more corn.
If, then, these things be so, the judgment of the farmer will be best
shown in rightly weighing _all_ the circumstances of his case; and in
the matter of seeding, as with physic, he will find that homœopathy
_alone_ is only quackery.