The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette., May 21, 1910, Page 369, Image 5

About The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920

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HOW TO DOUBLE YOOR CORN YIELDS
X —CORN ROOTS AND ROOT PRUNING.
By Tait Butler.
ORN GROWERS throughout
the South are now giving
much more attention than
^ ever before to that part of the plant
which is above ground. Considerable
attention is being given to the kind
of stalk, the number and sort of
leaves, the character of the ear and
its position on the stalk, and many
other similar matters; but we are
convinced that few corn growers
have made any serious or careful
study of the parts of the plant under
ground. Surely the roots of the corn
plant are of sufficient importance in
relation to the growth of the plant
and methods of cultivation to de
mand a thorough knowledge of their
mode of development, their relation
to the stalk and the manner of their
distribution in the surrounding soil.
Everv one knows that all the
leaves have their origin from the
nodes, or joints, including the first
leaf to appear; but few realize that
the roots, with the exception of those
that spring from the seed, also come
from those nodes, or joints, of the
stem. Even some of the nodes, or
joints, above ground, throw out roots
which are known as “brace roots.”
The nodes or joints still higher up
the stalk, as much as two feet from
the ground, also possess rudimen
tary roots which may be seen by
cutting away the sheaths of the
blades, and when corn blows down
these roots frequently develop and
enter the ground.
How Corn Roots Grow.
While the stem Is making a growth
of three or four inches from the seed
to emerge from the ground, the first
or primary root has grown probably
twice that distance. Soon after this
first root starts out fro mthe point of
the grain of corn, 2 to 4 others start
out, and these roots—3 to 5—are
spoken of as the primary roots, or
the roots of the seminal or seed
whorl. These first roots usually take
an outward instead of a downward di
rection, growing a distance from two
to three or four feet, near the surface
of the soil, and then, as warmer and
dryer weather comes, turning down
ward and penetrating the soil to the
depth of two to four feet.
Soon after the leaves begin to ap
pear above ground another set of
roots spring out from the node or
Joint at the base of the first leaf.
This second whorl of roots come
out from one to two inches nearer
j the surface of the ground than the
first lot of roots from the seed.
They also grow outward for a con
siderable distance, instead of down
ward, just as did the first seed roots.
This second whorl of roots usually
contains from three to five in num
ber. A few days after this second
circle or whorl of roots starts, an
other whorl begins to push out from
the second node or joint of the stalk
at the base of the second leaf. This
third whorl of roots, or the second
that has been thrown out from the
part of the stem under ground, Is
followed by others, only a short dis
tance apart, until there may be as
many as 7 to 9 of these circles or
whorls of roots. Coining out from
that part of the stem beneath the
surface of the ground. The first and
second joints or nodes above the
ground also throw out roots, as stat
ed above, which under favorable
conditions, also reach the ground,
and branching, add to the root sys
tem of the plant, and act as a brace
to the stalk.
We noted that the first four or five
circles or whorls of roots had a ten
dency to grow horizontally, or oul
sideways, but the later roots tend tc
go in a slanting direction deeply lnte
the soil, and only reach any grea
distance from the stalk at consider
able distance from the surface of th<
ground.
The Depth at Which Most Roots Ar
Found.
Oh an examination of nine plant:
of an average height of 12 inchef
at the Illinois Experiment Station, i
was found that they had an averag
of over ten roots. One plant, 2:
inches high, to the tip of the leal
had a root traced 35 Inches in lengtl
and another plant 4% inches high
had a root 13 inches long. Twenty
four roots were examined at *6 inche
from their base: 1 was 4% inche
deep at that point; 5 were 4 inche
deep; 12 were 3% inches deep; :
was 2 % inches deep; 4 were tw<
inches deep, and 1, %-inch deep a
this distance from the base or start
ing point of the root.
From these facts let us call atten
tion to the chances of root prunini
or injury by early deep cultivation
In the South, especially, it is com
mon to cultivate deeply when th<
plant is 10 to 30 inches high, unde
the impression that root injury is no
likely to occur at this stage of th<
Continuous Travel. THE ROYAL LINE OF HAY PRESSES
Before you buy a bay preas be sure you are set
ting one that is honestly built and will bale
smoothly, quickly and economically without break
ins down or settins out of order. We make this
kind of Hay Press—4 of them-The Royal, Roy
<if Junior. Royal Economy and Now Chicamamga.
Write us today and let us prove to you that one of
these is the one you should buy. _
CHATTANOOGA IMPLEMENT <6 MFG. CO.,
Department T. Chattanooga, Team.
■?ies s„.
UMtndux
EARS
wana
plant’s development. Above we gave
the distance of 2 4 roots from the
surface of the soil at a distance of
six inches from the stalk, and of
these all but one would have been
broken by cultivating 4 inches deep
six inches from the plants—these
plants averaged 12 inches high—but
only % of these roots would have
been injured by cultivating 3 inches
deep.
Of course, the character of the soil
and the amount of moisture will in
fluence the location of the roots with
reference to their distance from the
surface; but It seems a mistake to
suppose that deep cultivation can be
given at any time after the plant is
six inches high without great injury
to the roots. Of course, at this time
the injury of the roots may be of
less damage and be entirely over
come by the benefits derived from
more completely killing the grass
and weeds and by aerating the soil;
but a study of the root system of the
corn plant can not fail to impress
one with the injury which must be
done to the roots by deep cultivation
at any time after the plant is up to
a height of six inches or more.
Some Experiments With Deep and
Shallow Cultivation.
At the Illinois Experiment Station
all the roots within 3 inches of th<
top of the ground were cut thre<
times during the season, at one foo
from the stalk on all four sides
Seventeen rows on each of eight plot
were root-pruned, while a like num
her of rows on these same plot
' were not pruned. The year was a
[ unusually favorable one for cori
and the following yields per aci
were obtained:
B - !"■■ ■ .-.
Number Pruned— Unpruned- DUE. in
of Bushels Bushels favor oi
I, Plat. per acre. per acre, unprunei
, 1 92-8 98.2 6.9
f 2 86.5 94-0 8 5
3 93.4 96.3 1.9
i 4 85-2 86.6 1.4
> 5 91.0 97.0 6.0
' 6 83-2 87.0 3.8
, 7 92.8 95.6 2.7
j 8 88.2 86-9 3.7
As stated, the year was very favoi
’ able for corn, as shown by the larg
yields, and the pruning was only
| inches deep and one foot or mor
from the plant, and yet the averag
loss from root pruning on the eigi
plots was 4.375 bushels per acre.
The roots described are merely th
main roots originating at the see<
or at that portion of the stem unde
' ground, and of course, from thes
> are numerous side branches or sec
■ ondary roots, numbering in some in
- stances as many as 100 on a piec
3 of root 14 Inches long.
r When it is remembered that th
t roots of the first whorls are sprea<
) through an area around the stall
- about 6 feet in diameter, and tha
I these roots then turn downward am
penetrate to a depth of several feel
that the later roots while not spread
ing out so much, penetrate the sol
to depths of from 3 to 5 feet, an<
that all these roots are set wit]
branch roots which themselves agai:
have numerous branches, we ca:
readily see the necessity for a deei
■ loose soil and the importance o
breaking these roots as little as pos
sible. The depth of planting seem
to have little or no influence on th
depth of the roots, this being cor
trolled largely by the moisture cod
ditions and the depth to which th
soil is sufficiently loose to permit c
their free entrance.
We want every corn club boy t
carefully dig out one plant when 1
inches high, one 20 inches high, an
>one just as it is beginning to tasse
Dig the dirt away carefully, so tha
the arrangement of the roots ma
be carefully observed. It would b
well to plant these on loose soil o1
fering better facilities for removing
the dirt. If separate sets of plants,
some on dry soil and others on moist
soils could be dug out, it would also
be interesting.
BEE KEEPING FOR FARMERS.
VII.—Some Questions Answered.
Judging from the letters received
and the questions asked, the most of
our readers are beginners in bee
keeping and need elementary in
struction. As previously stated, we
can’t tell you everything in these
brief articles. We can only give
hints and suggestions here and there,
and you must fill in the rest from
your manual on bee keeping and
some good bee journal; also send
your name and address to several
leading manufacturers and supply
houses of bee materials and ask for
their catalogs. These often contain
valuable directions to beginners and
also give the prices of bee books and
journals sent by mall. I hope a
number of these people will adver
tise with us so you can get in touch
with them.
■
What equipment must I nave: you
ask. Well, next to the hive and all
its belongings you must have a veil
to keep the bees from stinging about
your face and head and gloves to
( keep them from stinging your hands.
. Some hee keepers are hold enough to
do work without either, but you
j don’t want to think of such rashness.
You should be thoroughly protected'
' and then you know you are all right
and can work with confidence.
What does a veil cost? Yon may
q make one yourself out of a mosquito
bar for very little, but it should be
colored black in order to see through i
“ It well. Better veils can be had by 1
mail from "supply'houses tor lb cents’' "
L to $1, according to quality. A pair
of buckskin gloves with close-fitting
sleeves are ail right, but you can buy
bee gloves from the supply honse
cheaper.
What about a smoker? You must
= have one to control and subdue the
bees. The bundle of rags that your
e grandmother used is out of date.
3 Smokers cost from 50 cents to fl.50,
f a miollfw A mAiflnm
e price will get a good one. See cata
t logs for particulars. Tou should
also provide som,e dry doted wood
e for smoker fuel.
l( How shall I handle my bees? Af
r ter putting on your veil and gloves,
e take up your lighted smoker and
. puff a little smoke in at the entrance
. of the hive. Then knock on the hive
3 with a stick or stone. The bees will
be frightened and fill their sacks
3 with honey. In this condition they
1 rarely sting. The reason they can
^ be handled so easily in swarming is
t that they fill their sacks with honey
1 before starting.
In entering the hive, the next step
I is to take off the cover. Do this and
1 everything else in the most gentle
I manner. Bees resent abrupt move
£ ments. No matter what it does, nev
! er strike at a bee. This will bring
3 others to its aid and you may have
more than you can manage. Never
f crush a bee since the smell of It in
_ furiates the others. ' If It stings you,
s gently rub the stinger out and pro
a ceed with your work.
T. C. KARNS.
Powell Station, Tenn.
8 -
f The Progressive Farmer and Gazette
and Louisiana Corn Crop.
a Mr. J. P. Parron. Omega, La., says:
) “If it had not been for the advice in
I your wonderful paper. The Progres
. sive Farmer and Gazette, I would
t not have made any corn, as I had
r seep water for six months, and too
3 much rain. As it is, I have 1,800
- bushels of corn on hand.