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MICROCOrv RESOIUTION TBT CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2|
1^ 1^
^ APPLIED IM/IG E In
165J East Main Street
Rochester, New rorh t*609 USA
(716) *a^ - 0300 - Phone
(716) ^88- 5989 -Fa.
rV.MIMOV OF CANADA
DEPARTMENT OF AOIilOin.l I UE
KXPHRIMHNTAL FAIIMS
COEN GROWING
w
MANITOBA.
BV
W. C. MiKJLUCAX, B,9.A.
SuperinitnderU Experimental Farm, Brandon, Man.
\-.
y\
n y I^ 1^ E TI N X o. 14
Se«'ond Sei'ies
Bulletins of the Second Series of the Bulletins of the Experimental Farms
treat of such subjects as are of interest to a limited class of readers, and
aie mailed only to those to whom the information is likely to be useful.
Pubti>h*d by diractien of the Hon. MARTIN BURRELL, Minister of Agrieulturo, Ottawa, 0.
OTTAWA
GOVEKX.IKNT PRINTING BUREAU
1913
IIOMIN'ION or r\N\|)A
AUTMKNT oy AdKirri.Tru';
KXI'nRIMHNT\t, 1 \i;ms
CORN (t ROWING
MANTTOI3A
BY
W. « . M.KIM.H AN. U.S.A.
^Snprrinlendent Experimental Farm, Brandon. .Van.
BUI.1.I:TIX No. 14
Sccoiul ScTH'f
Bulletins of the Second Series of the Bulletins of the Lxperimental rarmi
treat of such subjects as are of interest to a limited class of readers, and
are mailed only to those to whom the information is likely to be useful.
Publishtd by dir.otion of the Hon. MARTIN BURRtLL, Miniiter of Agriculture, Ottawa, O.
OTTAWA
GOVRBNMBNT PRINTING BUREAU
1913
39289—1
'I'll.' llMi..,nral>l.-
rill \Iiiii-lt 1 .■! .\rrh:;liiiri',
(tttllWll.
Sill. I liiiv llir lii.ii..ur Vi ^iiliiiiit liiTi'witli lliilliiin N... tl ..t till' Sc.'Miiil Srrit-.
(Ml ('iiriiWTMH inu: in M:niiti>l.ii. priiiiin li l.\ Mr W. ( '. MiK illiiiin, Sii|).rintiihliiil >•<
tin- l'A|iiriiiiiiit:il liiriii lit l!rjiHl..ii. Miiiiii..|.ii.
Ill ilii- inililiriili.iii i- |.ri-iiitc.| a -Imim iiruuiii. hi I'l.r llir intriMliii'li l' imi-ii
II' It II iifr (.'ciiiral lunini' I'rup in Miinitolinii atfrirnliiirr, a- will ii. a i-iiiu-i-f iiinl 'liar
<x[iii-itiii|i of till- lir>t iiiitliniU ..t LTinviiiir. Iiaiiilliiin aii'l iilili/iii(r llii' «iiliir.
( 'urn urn" i Mi:, iiilil a vi-rv liw \iar- au.'. ua- -ii|iiii.-.i'i| t.. Iir i|mli- iiii|i.i--ilili'
Miiilcr MaiiitiiKan I'niiilit i..ii>. 'rw.nl,v-i"l.l \iar-' rxpiririn'i' in yr.iwini; llii- iTnji on
till' Kxprriii I'Mliil i''ariii' at Itraiiilnii, Man., aial Iniliaii Ilrail, SiisU., lia- -Imwn it
til be mil' lit' tlir iiiii-t ciTlaiii iiiii. iin't prntitiiMr t'iira«c i-rop» pii-:iiMi' .if priiiliiitiiiii
irii tlir prairii'-.
It i^ linpiil tliiit llic iiifiiriiiati.iii iiirlmliil in tlii- pnlilicatimi will I tTnlin' in
iiicliiiiiijr iiiiiiiy uf uiir flll•lln•^^ u< iiitruiiiicc uniiliiiillv inrii fur fllra^'^■ inlu llnir li-i
.if iTiipi^. iiMil Ml Krciilly iii.Ti'ii-c the iTiip-pruiliii'liitt po-iliiliti.-s of tlui, farm-; iiiiil
rt'iiiliT tile prntil- of llii'ir fanninjr uprratiuii^ li-^ -iilij.i-t tu wlicnt niarlvrt iiitlii.'iii'i-s.
I jiavi' till' li.iiiiiur tu 111', -ir.
^'unr iili.ilirni >irvaiit,
.1. ir. citisDAi.i;.
lUiiitui-. Ihinimiun Ej'in liiiiiiiln' iniis.
()n\w\, Manli -':.. Il'lu.
;!!»L>>>!l 1 I
INDEX.
r.rii
An u K"riitfi' ('r<> in Munitiilni
Am a tiruiri <><'! Ill Miiiiitiiliii
A< u Suli^tiriitv fcir SiimiiKT full. us
llurvi'r'tiiiif t'lir mill
ItM V.llui' III Hot Ut II Ills.
St<)okf<i, how to Store and Hmi'lli'
Siiiiikiinf, Mi'tliDil iif
Siiri'i.-'* lit', in Mu tolia
Viiliii' (if, in Munifiilia.
Viiriftit- "iiiliiblc fur Miiniliilui
I iilttvutiiiii. .
< iiltiiiK, Molliods of.
Tillli' to Cwt .
Kimiiuni', Fi'"ilimf ot .
RnHiluintf
' MliplIICIlt, CoRt of.
I ruin. Cost of I'roilurtion iiftcr ('nrii.
(\)*l of I'riwluctioti after Siitnnii'r Fnlli "
liii|ilt'ni('nts fur Corti (Irowinjr
Corn Hiiiili r
Corn Drill
Corn Marker ,
Cultivators.
Disc Harrow
<irain I'liiidt'r.
< irain Drill. .
Ifand I'liintor.
i farrow, Dras.'.
RoUcr
Stookintr Jack. ......
Land, Prppiirutioii of f"f ' ■ in
Spod Corn. Trstinir "' ......
Seedinif, Method'* of. .
Silos, St.vle.- "
.Silii Filling.
Hliiwer tor. . - .
Ciittiiifr Hoxes
ml Sliilililr
K
■,it(
KiKfino. .
F.iiuipinent for. Cost of.
Stoiikinjr. Afethod of
Ti-tini: of Seed
H
17, 11
IT
7
7 «»
!l
It
t.-.
i:.
1-
I.'.
1-.'
II
1 1. 1"
1 1
I..
11
i::
II
11
17
10
|(»
u
1^
I-'
■J'>
■2i)
■20
•20
•2(1
1.
10
It
CORN-GROWING IN MANITOBA
Tlic i|ii(-lii.ii may l>i> a^Ucd: Wliy -li.niM 'n !■.■ i;r.iwn in Maiiiti.l'U ^ Sincr
Miiniti.lia i-^ tlif viry cciilri of llir lianl wln-al l.cll an. I many Immirr.l- ..l' m'lKs imrtli
(p1 ill" cTUlrc III' llir roi-M Im'Ii, wliy nn| -tick In iiur '.vl.ial an'l let llir ihm>|.1c ot \\u-
.-..ulh L'iNiW till' i-urii ;
'I'lic tir-t iiM^wri- In llii- .lur-iinn i< llial wc lan m-.iw a I'nn-i.lriMl.lr Mi'anlity nf
• •nrn nn ihc laial nuw in u-r in .Manilnl. i uilhnul .liiT.a-in'j lla' uiit|ml nf wIumI l.y
a liu-licl. ('nni-nn.win;;- iloc, nnt nf Mi'rr--ily nuan tlir ili-vlai-im;' oT wli al Iml may.
rallicT. help II- In r,,nlinn.' In i;i'nw llial i-crral. Wliilr an alli'm|>t In y:rnu- iinlliiiiL'
l.iil uliial will eve iilnally nakn in-nlitalilc u Imal-rnu in- impn— ilil,-. a liahim-c.j syslcii
nl' ajiriiailturc. willi nnni a> an in |ini-lanl it. p. will kn,p llm yicM nl wIumI np tn
\ iririn-prairic sliimlaril. Tliirr i- -ra-. n why wheal -ImiiM iinl cnnlinii.' tn l.r
llr- |irim-ipal mnncy-maUiny cTnp in Manilnha Inr many yiar>. hut the aniniinl nl
ini- ,. In.m it will hi' in<n'a-eil ratlin- than i|r,iTa-ri| il' i-allh- are ke|.| a- a pmlitahh
-i>li- liii. . il' rnni i- lirnwn Inr ihein nn laial that wmiM nihcrwi-i' he -iiniinerlallnw nr
-tiihhl" ernp. ami it' the fertilitv anl phy-ieal emalilinn ..I the -nil are kept up l.y t'm'
M-e nf ihi- inaniiri'.
(■ui;n (,i;ii\VN srci i;ssi ii.i.V.
While it i- true thai Manilnha i- m.rtli nf the .li-iriet usually enn-i.lereil a^ the
enin hell, nevirtheh-- cnru fnr Iml. lei- y he i;rnwn lai-e w;lh -me,--. Tin- ha-
1. en (lemniislrale.l in a praelieal manner hy farn.er- in all i-arl- nf tia- pmvinen a-
well as hy the Kxperinenfa! Farm. Wiiile il h;\< hi.-n rip.-iie.l neea-ionally. the iirn-
.lueiinii nf ripe .iiraiii eaniiAt he (-nii-l(l<-reil a> heinu- nn a prnlilabic hasi<. I?iit with
liu- riiiht varieties aii.l |>rnp ^r c ultivalhm. the ppMlm-tinn nf a sal i-faetnrv yield nf
Indiler enni i- a- eerlain a- that nf aii.\' nther -uc-.-e— ful ,-rnii, ami the aiiimiiit nl
f,,.l.|er pi-n,lm-el i- greater than eaii he nhtaiia'l fmin any nth r ernp at jiro-i nt
l-nnw)t.
»ni;N AS A SITiSI'lll ■[ i: liii; SIMMlilMAl.l.oW.
The sy-t'-m nf -mi.im-rfallnwin- wliieh ha- tiiven sm-li y,.,„l rc-ulls in we-ti-ni
Canada, is iml will t il- fault-. Sn Inii- as land i- ehea|i an-l ahundanlly fertile.
il is a vi>i-y satisfactory means nf keepiii}; up tin- yield nf irraiii. liut with lau-l
hiK-ninin? iilnrc cxpciisive ami at the -aiiie time its viririii fertility heiii^r depleted, snim-
-ystoin needs tn h-- adnpted llial is less .-xtravaiiaiit nf s,dl fertility than straight
m-ain-yrowiiiR and simiirer fallew. While il is pn-ihle In a.lnpt a rntat inn that prnvides
fnr the use (d' hariiyard inaniire will I im-ludilii;- corn, still, the addition nt cnni
make- it ani-e |u-acti,-ahl,- and h •Iter halain-cd. 'I'lie prim-ipal advantage that cnni
ha- ..ver -iiiiiim rfallnw i- in makiiii; pn-ihie the pmlilahle iwe nf the lami every year.
Summerfallowiiijr ir.ay insuri' an exeelleiil crop ,.f urain the fnllnuiin.'' year, hut it
d.ics -n at the hiss of a year's use ,d' the land. Cnni will i;i\e as (.'end results as the
fallow ami it jiays fnr the use nf the land ami for the wnrk expended nn it hy iriviiiL'
a lariie crop id' <-xcell<-iit forajre.
1 1 may si>em straiiire that corn will jrive pra<-tieally as fiood a fidlowiiii.' eroi> as
Mimiiicrfallow hut it nevertheless is tnie, as has h-eii demonstrated in practioe. The
yield in bushels will i>rohahly he slisrlitly less, hut the <rop ripens i'roni fen days to
two Weeks earlier, iiii-l is nv-.-.-h easier to handle ■■'.: a.ec,.n..,t of liavinir shorter, stiffcr
straw that is less a|it to lodfxe and re<!iiires less twine. From tin- experione.- of a
nuinher of seasons on th-.- Kxixrimeiital Farm, it is apparent that wheat after corn is
8
equally as prolital)!.. a crop tn harvest as wlwuf alter siitniiorlalK.w .neii when
the one season's work i eoiintefl.
<"III:AI' (iKAIN AITKK COKN.
But when the ,„<ts of tlie two seasons ar- considored t..}.'cthor, the wheat grown
after eorn is by far the more elieaply frrown and therefore the more profitable. Resnlt-
that throw liRht on this subjeet havo lioen obtain-d in thi. mtation experiments nt
the Brandon Kxperimental Fnrn;. In the^e tests, eipht different rotations arc beimr
eomparo.l. IJeeords are bein^ k..pt of the total •■ost of farniin- each field, includinp
r-nt, use of machinery, mannre. etc. as well as labour. Then the value of the pro-
■ liuts IS aseertame,!. and the proiit arrived at. W'c find that grain followin- a crop
ot corn IS always the m..st cheai.ly--rown prain on the Farn;. The following re.sult-
III m-J illusiratcl this: Wheat grown in field C 4, which grew corn the previous
year, cost 2!» cents per bushel to grow and thresh; wheat on fields D 4 and E 4. follow-
ing sumiiKTlallow, cost 4.3 cents per Ini^bel; wheat on «-ld (J 3. fall-plondiiiiir. eo-t
•.. cents i.ei- bushel, an,i on fiebt K ;!. spring ploughing, cost 4!) cents per bushel.
Nin.ilarly. in 1011, wheat on ficM O :i. following corn, cost only 23 cents per bushel,
whiio on other fields, on sumraerfnllow or stubble land, the cost ran from 41 to 4!)
cents per bushel The reason for this is plain : wo have a field in as good condition
as u summerlallow, without having a back debt against it of an idle year. Il mun
be remembered, however, that, in order to get these results, the corn field must be a^
clean as a good sumniorfallow.
COR.X I\ THE KOTATION.
notation of crops is one of the most needed improvements in Manitoban agricul-
ture, and corn is a crop that lends itself n;oit readily to us., in a rotation. When
corn IS grown so as to get the b.-st possible results from th" com itself, it also give-
the best conditions for the crops that follow. 1' serves well as a cleaning crop, an.i
as has been shown, may act as a substitute for summerfallnw. Being a gross feed-r
It can maJie excellent use of manure, rutting sod or other humifviiig material A
lieavy application of manure may cause too great a growth of leaf and stem in grain
causing lodging an.l lateness, but there is no such danger with eorn, as the more leav-
It produ.vs the better. It helps to decay the manure, which is also mixed through
the sol by the cultivation, so that the grain that follows corn gets as much benetit
from the manure as though it ha<l received it directly an.l, in many instances, tic
etteet on the grain is much better.
Just what rotation should be used will depend on circunisfances. such as location
and the system ol lariiiing to Iw followed. For the ii:an who wishes to grow a con-
.-iderable amount of wheat, something different is required than for the out-and-out
dairynum or stock raiser. The following is a good rotation which gives two-tiftlw of
th(( land to wheat:—
l>t year--Wheat.
L'nc! year— Wheat.
•ird year — Corn.
4tli year — Oats or barley (seeded down).
otli year — Hay.
Til
15 the old^ Norfolk rotation with corn instead of turnips and an ex
tra crop
ol wh.Mt added. For the dairyman who wants less wheat, it woul.l be an improve-
ment to drop th° extra year of wheat. This rotation n:akes no provision for pasture,
and IS berelore suitable only for a farm where there is enough permanent pasture
1 ;:c addition of anotlier year. i.e.. 0th year. Pasture, would
where it was needed.
provision for pasture
AiuitluT ariMimciiiciit w'lich lui> smiic ;rl\ ;iiit.iKi> :iii.|
fullowiiisr:- -
I -I yciir- Wlicat.
I'liil yoar -Wh'Mi.
■'!nl yearOiUs or Imrliv (-ct-il-il .IhwhV
Itli your -Hay.
•"ill yciir-"l'!istiire.
(Itli yi-nr — Corn.
'iiic ili-ii'lv;iiilafrf> is the
■A f;(«
(1 ;irraiii.'i-
[< 111
f iir((>!;u>n
of l„
■iri^' rntliiT
lly'lUi.
allalla a*
'I'lif a.lvniUaf.'-i' is that il l.riiij;> ll ni oii tin- so.i laiul, whiiOi i-
nicrit. 'I'lio (lisailvaiitaj-'u is that llnrc aii' tliri'r years of crain ith
and th" s|.,.,liii;r down i.s with tho third, so that tho land is in dan.t't r
dirt.v for a jumd cati'h of grass.
Tlif following is a f?ood rotation for a stock rai^ir or dairsiiian.
tlio liay crop : — ■
1st year — Wheat.
L'lid year — Wh-at.
;ird year — Corn.
Ith year — Oats or barley.
5th year — Oats or barley.
0th year- Alfalfa, seeded uloiie.
7th ycar^Alfalta.
Sth year—Alfalfa.
0th year— Alfalfa.
10th year— Alfalfa.
This gives only one-fifth of the farm in wheat as enmiiared with one-
alfalfa, and consequently would not be aeceptalde to a wheat grower. To {ret
into a rotation it is necessary to have a long rotation and a large proportio!! of
Alfalfa may he used separately from the rotation as thus: —
1st year — Wheat.
2nd year — Wheat.
3rd year — Oats or barley.
Ith year — Corn.
The farn; i-oiild be divided into five eipial fieldp, four t.. he in the above rotation
and the tiftli in alfalfa. Once every five ynrs the alfalfa could be chaiiL'ed to a
different field. The whole farm would then have had the alfalfa in twenty years' time.
In tlie>c> rotations, suniiiiei-fallow or roots irav le used instead of corn, but as
this bulletin is written especially to show how c.}rii may h,- sri-owii in rotations, the
latter has been ustxl in each case.
There are numerous other rotations in whii-li r,,vu nuiy b,. succcssfnlly groun. but
tliesc serve as an illustration.
half i,i
alfalfa
alfalfa.
ciioicf; of xahiktiks.
Success in corn-growing <lepends to a great degrc" on the -election of propi r
varieties. \'arieti(>s that are best suited to conditions in the corn belt statc~ (.r in
Ontario do not suit for ]\Iaiutoba. Corn of the large varieties is a semi-troi.ieal
plant, its growing season is very hmg. and i7,v normal growinij tcruprra'un is hiyh
both day and night. In Manitoba we have ;' si>ason iniicb too short for tlie Inniri-
varic-li's of corn, ami our nights arc loii cool. Tt v.-as oniv by coiiliuueii selection oi
spe<'ially a<lapted types that the northern boundary of sueci-ssfiil corn-growing was
pushed nortliward for hundreds of miles. .V type has [icen developed thai docs with
:{0280 — 2
10
It'ss lu-at tliiiii tlii- Mjutli' rn i-dm rcqiiirrs iiiul ri'Mchcs iiKitiirity in a imu'li •ilmrti'r
.'('asoii. I'd ilu tliis it lin.-; Iiccii iicccsMiry tn s:icrilicc -^'v/.v. so that ihi- northern varic-
tios do tiot proclucc tlio hulk of corn that is ohtaincil iu tlio south. It is advisabh'
for Manitohaii farinirs to uso vnrietips of this spccializoil northern type. Souietiii:es
a greater bulk of fo<Mer <'an be obtained by the use of hir^rer varieties, but tlie iiuality
is quite inferior on aepount of tlie neeessily of euttin;.' the crop in a very ininiature
condition. The foUowin?,' are some of the varieties that may be used succ"ssfully in
Manitoba for fodder or ensilajre f.'ro\vinir: Xorthwcstern Hcnt. Quel)ec Yellow, Xortb
Dakota White, Longfellow. Early Kisht-Jiow-d Caiutda, t 'ompton's [^arly. For
Brain production, Squaw corn is about the only variety that can ho depended on to
ripen, but the yield from it is very small. In ^'ood seasons or specially favoured loca-
tioiis, the variety known as Free Pr-ss will ripcti ; it is probably the best suited for
grain production of any wo have at present.
SIIKU Ti:STIN(i.
As the production of the seed corn which the .Manitohan farmer us/s is quite
beyond his control, it is very important that the s"ed should be tested for gern:ina-
tion before being used. Seed corn is very often badly lackiiif;: in vitality owing to
bad weather, bad storage, immaturity or other causts. It is always advisalde. then,
to procure a small sample before purchasing and have it tested. The Laboratories
of the Dominion Seed Branch at Ottawa and Calgary and of the Manitoba Agricul-
tural College at Winnipeg are always available tor the free testing of any seeds sent
to them, or it is an easy matter to test for oneself. Count out 100 or l'OO seeds of
average appearance, roll them up in a wei cloth, or put them between blotting papers,
and then keep moist and at a uniformly warn: temperature for about ton days.
pui:p.\ratiox of land.
Corn is a crop that requires a large amount of available plant food in the form
of rotting Tegetable matter. This can best he obtained by ploughing under sod and
by applying liberal quantities of barnyard manure. In soils that are deficient in
humus it is necessarj- to do one or both of these. In most Manitohan soils, where
there is abundance of hunius, good crops of corn can be obtained without either
sod or manure. However, manure is always a great benefit, and will produce not only
a heavier, but also an earlier, crop. There is not only the fertilizing effect of th ■
manure, but the fermentation which takes place develops heat which is very helpful
to the heat-loving corn.
When sod is ploughed under for corn, the ploughing should be done the year
before, and the earlier in the fall it can be done the better. This provides a better
opportunity for killing the grass and commencing the rotting of the socl before the
corn is planted. With sod of cultivated grasses and clovers, the best results will b"
obtained with moderat-ly deep ploughing. The furrow slice should not hv thicker
than can be properly packed so that there will be no air spaces left under it. It
should be thick enough to bury the turf and give enough soil to fortn a seed bed.
With native prairie sod or brome grass, best results will be obtained by breakiug
shallow early in the preceding summer and backsetting deeper in the fall.
The best time to plough stubble land for corn will depend on the soil, some soils
being more suited to spring ploughing and son:e to fall ploughing. In most Mani-
tohan soils, fall ploughing will give the better results. In ploughing under manure, the
ploughing should be deep enough to cover the manure properly, but not enouirh to
bury it out of reach of the corn.
Land for corn should always be thoroughly worked before planting, as corn
requires a finely-worked, firm seed bed and it is almost impossible to work a <'orn field
too much. Cultivation can be performed in a more wholesale and inexpensive way
before the corn is idanted than after it is up. It therefore pays to kill as many weeds
II
•s p,i>sil.lr ;iii(l lime llu iiiiid in ;i, m-iir hU-.iI r..iHlili,Mi iis IMP,^il,|,■ l,if(.rf pliiiitinit.
The uinoiiiit of (Miitivation rtMiuircd will .Iciciid nn the (■..iMJiiioii of tlir lun.!. Tlw
disc liurruw is usually tlw b(vst init'l"iiiiiit for wurUiiij,' ii|> i-.,rii hiiul ; it slioiild U-
followed 1 ,.• the packer and the draur liMrrow. When a marker or a eorn .Irill id to be
nsed for phintinp. a smooth ndler is the hest iniplenu'rit to use just heforo pliintinif.
as it leaves a >M.(iotli snrfai'e where the marks are easily followed. As so,),, as plant-
in;; is done, the harrow shoold he nsed aL'ain lo ri new ih,- surface ni;d.'li tlnit the
smooth ridier has destroyed.
o--*^-
.M;irklT fill- -ciMJlK; 111 lull i'V IliUlii.
MKTIIOD.^; OK Si;i:i)IN(i.
Corn nia.v be planted with a hand planter, a grain drill or a corn drill.
[n order I,, use a hand planter, it is n-ee^sar.v to mark the tiel.l witli a home-
made marker made of a 10-foot 4-inch x 4-inch scantling' with legs, handles nn.l
shafts as shown in the illustration. By dragging this implement across the field in
each direction, and planting at the intersections of the lines it makes, one can plant
the corn in rows each way. This is a very cheap and easily-operated piece of equip-
ment, and cannot be called very slow either. With one liorse and a Ifi-foot marker,
one man can get over the ground very quickly; a man with a hand planter can plant
four or five acres m a day. The advantage of planting in this way rather than with
the grain drill is that it permits cultivation between the rows of corn both lengthwise
and crosswise of the field; this makes it ii-.iicli easier to keep down the weeds and
lessens the amount of hai^d-hoeing.
t^^S^ssmsm^^"'- i» •■
S.'.-iif el t.. -,
« III iii«- 4-' ilu-li.-> .i|«iil. 'I'lii.'. 1m, 1-1 . tu.Iltv lu..rk.'
^'-MII ilK-il ^|iiH'
.Host .,( th,! corn plittit...! i,i M;,Mitol,u is ,,„t in with th.. onlinarv irmin .Irill.
>o lorjTiH tl.c land .s not very tonl with w..,U, this is a pfrf.rtly sati.sfaclorv niwho,!
ot pnntinff. It is the .nurkcst nictho,! thiit can he mscI. KnonKh of the s ts of
the drill shoiihi l)c sto|,,,.,| „,, so that the corn will he planted in rows 12 inches apart
It It IS desire,! to cultivate the Held afterwards with a fonrhors ick-foot c.dlivator
with some of the lect olf, the two nincliines -hoiiM l,e -ot t, wether h.'for. seo<lin- and
conipurcd. It will .onietiin, , e fontnl po^sihle to sow with th.. drill spouts so spaced
t lat. afterwards, tl ultivaloi- can follow withoiM .-ither horses or wheels ^oing on
tho rows of ••orn. and with s.,ine f.et rei.mv,.d to allow fur the rows. Th.. .IriU shoul.l
he set to drop tho (jrains ,.f ....rn almnt six in.-h,.s a|mrt. If should he tesfe.1 oi, i
Jianl road or yard hefore li .iny; used in th.. Held,
PhuitiiiK »iih Con, (irilj. Knimloii Kxpnimcntal Faiiip.
The corn drill i^ made specially for plantinir corn either in :ows or in hills. For
planting in rows, it has little aiivantiiRc over the grain drill, and would hardly justify
Its cost. Where corn is to ho us.'d on a larw s.fal.- as a cleaning crop instead of
8un:niertallow. it will pay to have a corn drill, an.l t.) plant in hills so as to bo able
to cultivate m both directions. In planting in hills, either with corn drill or hand
planter, from three to six grains shouhl be dropped in each hill.
Experiments have been conducted at this Kxiicrimcntal Farm for a considerable
n' -nber of years, in which planting in 'lis has he..n compared with planting in rows.
The r.erage results show that the lai, r yi..lds are .►btaincd from the rows. IIo-^-
ever, thi.s is offset by tho fa.-t that it is -asirr to keep the land clean when the eoi.i
IS in hills, and more of tlw cultivation can be don., with horsc-s. As it is our object
to have the corn field as clean as a summerfallow. we beli.'vc th- hill system is pr..fer-
able even though the yield be slightly less. The same conditions prevail in comparing
distances between the rows. Rows only :iO inch,.s apart have averaged a slightly
heavier yield than when ^ti or 4.' inches apart. The greater opp..rtunities for cultiva-
tion offered by the wid..r bare strips lea.l us to prefer 42 ini'he, as th,- distmce
between the rows even though the crop be slightly snaller. We believe the difference
IS more thon mn.de ,,p in the cle.nnness mnl vigour of the fulh.wiug grain crop, ami in
tlie superior quality of th'_. corn forage produced.
l:t
i
f
J
■^Str^^i^.S.;..-— -r^^^"^^***
14
< ..rn -luml.l 1.. pl..„t...l ,l„riM;r ,l„. 1,<, h,,l, ..f ,|.,. in,.„,h .,f M„y. K.Hi.T thai,
ciiniiph ...„<..„ r,,r flio <-,,rn tn iTuprrly ,|,.v,.|„p.
iNTi:K"rii,i,A(ii:.
< -m .•«.! U i,M-,| a« n .•l.miini; -nip i imi-,. it p.-rinits „f ir.UT-tillane „r oiiltivu-
ion l.otw,„„ , „. rows. «;„r„ i„ i,H.ir i, „„f „ H.^mlnfr .to,,; thore is no ,Top that
.1 l..av,. ah,., an.v d.rt.rr thai, ..rn it it is loft .mn,Itiy„tr,l. In or.hr. thoroforo.
that ,orn s houM s,.rv,. ,ts purpos,. as a ,v.aninB rrop in a rotation, it i. nl..„h,t,.|v
"fvossary that .t 1... k-pt ,-h.a„ l,.v n.p,.at...l cultivation. Tl,.. ,.rop i..,.lf h ih.nM
UToatly miprov,,! an, I r,spoii.|, ,, ry .pii.kly to it> h-nctits.
'r«ii ii(ir«i- liilintr iiiliu.itiir.
As snon as the .seed is in the
iTomiil, thi
., , , , ■ harrow should b,- starli^d to hell) ,'over
t... seed an,l to renow the soil n,„l,h which has b...cn spoiled by the smooth roller, if
.t has bc..n used. The harrow should be used two or three times while the ,orM is
gcttinfr started and r,>aching the height of about six inches. If there aro -bowers
during this time, many weed seeds will be staged and if these are killed with the
harrow it will save more expensive work lat"r on.
As soon as the rows of corn can he distinctly seen, the work of intertillapo should
commence. Wherever there is an ar.a of, say. eipht or ten acres of corn grown t
will pay to have a two-horse cultivator. It is not a very expensive iniplemcnt and is
a great tune-saver as compared to using a on.-horse cultivator, and is much more
satisfactory than trying to adapt an ordinary big cultivator. The latter nuahod is
used by some corn growers in southern Manitoba and is reported as practicable The
>pouts in he drill are stopped an,l the fvet of the cultivator are taken otf s,. as to
match each other. 1 he big four-horse cultivator is then used on the corn, Ih"
method will help a grain-grower to start in corn-growing by using he implements
already on hand. But it ,s only a makeshift compared to the convenience aiidZ^
work of the two-horse corn cultivator.
The two-horse cultivator shoul.l be use.l often enough to keep the laiul clean
wuh a loose mulch on the surface. When the corn gets too high for this imple ent'
hen the one-horse scuttler should be brought out. On the Experimental F^r n The
cultivation of the corn is continued until the man and the hors^ cannot bn =„„„ ^n
.he ran con.. Thi, is the way to L^et big crops; the miserable corn so often ^een in
Manitoba is due almost alwa.vs ,„ .ultivation being stoppe.1 too soon. Thi= method
I A
togi'thiT wjtii Sdiiii' hund-hipciuu. uivit limil whi.h rati l..' ii-i il the li)ll..\vini{ year I'or
(jrowiiiK' ilcati -iiii Kruiii.
In itrcl.T tor lurn to Iw a !.ii(ii«-. as a dc anin;: .rop, it is ii"«iv-sary that u I'lrtaiii
iinKiiiiit of liaiwl-hcieirig lie iJinir. lii no ntliiT way .'an the w.ihU tliiit ({"""W bctw I'ti
tho stalk* (,f cor.i b<> ri'acht'ii. Tin- wnri^; nC iMnd-liocinfr can ho ri>ilii<'i-l «r«'atly by
Siiiule, walkiiig ciiltiMitor.
plenty of work with the disc harrow betdre seeding, and with the drug liarrow until
the corn is seven or ciglit inches higii. After that, a thoroiifrh cleaning can only be
obtained by going over the tie].! once or, in a wet season, twice with the hoe.
CUTTING.
As corn would make use of a much longer season than there is here, it is well to
let it have as much of 'he season as possible. Therefore, the later the harvesting can
be left without damage by frost the better. But the croj, should not be allowed to be
frozen and should always be cut before the usual date of killing frosts. A light fvost
that burns the tips of the leaves will not do serious harm, but a general freezing is
injurious to the quality of the fodder. In actual practice, from September 5 to 10
is found to be about the right time for cutting corn at Brandon. In case a luavy
frost comes unusually early, before the corn has been cut, it is advisable to rush cut-
ting and gu* all the corn knocked down before it dries out.
Three methods of cutting corn are practised, viz., cutting by hand with sickle
or hoe, cutting with a grain binder, and cutting with a corn binder. For small or
medium areas, the first is th'- cheapest method, but the scarcity and independence of
farm labour in Manitoba, particularly in the fall, make it rather impri-.cticable.
The grain binder is the implement generally used for ciittinfr corn in Manitoba.
So long as the crop of corn grown is poor and light, the grain binder will handle it
satisfactorily, but a good crt,p of well-developed stalks of corn is much too hard on
this machine. When a man claims success in cutting corn with a grain binder, it -s
usually a good indication that liis crop of corn is not what it should be.
Wherever corn-growing is taken up in a thorough manner, it is practicallv a
necessity to have a corn binder. Of all the special corn machinery, the corn binder
is the one which it is most diflScult to dispense with. As it is an expensive implement
and is only used for a few days in the year, it will pay three or four farmers to co-
operate and buy one among iLeia. Provided they are men of the spir.t that makes
for co-operation and are willing to work together, one machine can serve their needs
quite satisfactorily.
Til. h.M at riittiiiK' hiiK
Har\)'stiiitif th*' >v]'.
i:
rii. r.. ur.. ,w„ .lul;n.t uM. ,.t ,„,•.„« ui.l si„nn,{ I.mI.I.t . on. Th. or.o
. - u.t vor.„lly pr«ct..o.l ,n Mam..,!,.. .. t,. dry i, i,. ,„K,k... Tl.i. .,.t..m h«» th.
i-ilo an.i buy ..r hire silotill.iiK iiiucliiniry.
In St .okmff .•„»,. a hon,.-,, ,u{e .■on.nvanr.. ,,,||,„i „ Mookin»-jnH< h u Kr.'ut hell.
.! ' '■■ t-y P";""« t«" l<'^^ al>.>ut four f,..t Ions o„ ono ..,,,1 of „ l.lfoo, ...rntU, i'
wo or .nor., hoi.. „r.. hor.-l hor,..„„.||v ,l,.„„h th- s,.:.,.tli„K at fro,,, thr.v "o ,x
I. .m,.t,o,. of th., hroo,,. l.m..ll.. n,.,| th- v„,„li„,.. Wh..„ ,h,. ,took in ..on:ph.„.,l
..L hv th I th,.t h;,. ,h,. hir. o„; ,h,. oth.r ,,„! nlip. on.ily fhroud. th.. stook
I tm ,„,p,en,ent .8 uj-cd and th,^ ,to..k. mad. i.,r«e an.i ^traiKhf. th.y will sta,. i .,,
.•.II •1... w,.,t..r. A «oo.l M/,. of „ool< i. o,... thMt i< nhou, .ix f,.,., ,,.ro.:o„ h,. „r u I
H..d aho,„ ,hr.... ...,.t a..ro-s „t tl.o ha,.,l. All .to,.k« ,|,„„,,, ,„, ,i,h,K , , '• "
linn.i o( hiM.hT twill., ahni.t thr...-Mu,irt..r« of th.. way „,,
About a. satisfa,.t..ry a luctho.l ,.f han.lli,.!.' stook,>,l -on, as anv ,- to l,.n
s a,,d.ng u. tho s.ouk un^il it is ruMHl..|, an,l them draw i, into the stable ,.i,h..r by
>l|.i!rhload or by drapfriiiff cich stook with a chain.
If it is desir..,l to hav.. th.^ ,.„rn store! n..ar,.r th,. Imihiin^'s. ,, niav b,. ,
a:.a.nst trestles m lon« rows. These rows should run east and west so that th- '
- lU b. -arr.ed throuj^h by th,. pri-vailinsr winds .n.l not ,,il,.,l u,. in banks acainst
Fodder oornoa..not be store.l by pilinK^ it up in tnows or st.icks unless it ,s
n, layers w,th about four tinu.,s its hu!;; of dry straw. If pih-.i up by hsell ,t
heat an.l n,oul.l. The n,ethod of staekin. it with straw has L.I tLl at tS I ,
..cental Farm w,th satisfactory results. The corn k-pt well and the straw -
til..
>il,.d
now
th-
put
will
i-ri
out
IS
!>< lliiMiiiriil li> thr ■•..rii tliiif till' intrlr iili- il ur.-.-.lil.v. Iml it Ink.- niiirh lAlru worlc
t" ^iiirk il tlii« wii.v.
IihIiIit iiiiiy In' -IimmI ii|i iiuiii>i>l II «;ill nr |>nrtitii>ii nr nu ti>|i nl' ,i iimw in ,, liiirn,
Mh.j will ki( |i ill tlii" wii.v if it i- ilry wI..m limiiulit ii, hikI i- nut in t.M. trr.Mit Imlk.
KluKIMl IN SII.U
rill' iilciil wn.v ipf «ti>riiiu liiililir inm ii in u »iln. It i« \rr,v it in-li tn In- prrfrrrcil
I" -tiMikiiiir. S.iinr 111' till' iiiKiinlim .. mnv Ih^ lirii'llv stntiil n- lullnw-: KiHilimi- i» n
iiiucli iimri' viihiaidi' IimhI i>n iii'iuiiiil of il^ »in tiiIimit; it tnkr- tlir iiliirc of tiii> jfrnii
j.'rii.. Ill' «iiiniiiiT. It i* iiii.n' irun.in ii-iil, i\* il ii nil ciitrii ii|. il.-nii, wliilr tif. .•oiir-i-
-tiilk- iif tliii ilr.v Imlilcr iiff i.l'liii I. It. It iiiaki < iniw r.. im Inj ii« it milti-ii* iiinj
IJMi.Mir-. it ... lliiil it i« ii-.iiiiil:itr,| li.tltr. It i- iiiii.'li in.ir nv.iii.'iit t.. iik.. itii.|
.iiiiiituili.. jr.iiiitf ..III in tlir -n.iw lur In.j.l.r. Il i- ti ..r.' I'hIhImIiI. . nn.l sl.i.k lliriv..
I. It, r .111 ln.iil tli.y like.
Till- .il.l iin'jii.lii'' ;iifiiin»t i'ii«iliiu.. ix Inrinlv .jyini.' mit. Il..u.\.r. ..nr ...iM-iuii-
iill> I ..iii.< ii.-r.i-^ -.iiiii' ri'iiiiiiiiit.< lit' it nil <>uti \irnf,\r «li,, l.nv.. nrv.T -i-.ii iiiiilnKi- fi .1.
In r.i-.' il •till i\i.t* in thi' iiiinili ..f ...iiii' nf mir r ii.l.r-. tlic I'.illnwinu' .1. tlnit.. -Int.-
Hunt, nr.' inn.li : ('nttlr lik.' i nHilnir.' mtv inii.li; •iiin.tinii'", .-..«- tlnit liavc ncv. r
-I'll It rtii.c it nl tirrit a-t tln-.v nii»lit nii.v in^w I I, Imt tli.y -....n >fi I vrry I'oinl i.l'
'•• Il II''- •!" ill rirr.-ts .111 111.' II ilk .'itli.'r In Ihn.mr ur ri.liii.-.. It lii- ii.i ill .'lTi-.| .
"11 III. Ii.nlth .ir l.iiiK.'vit.v 111' .'nlll... Imf rnlh.T, wli.ii fr.l wi-rly. it iin|ir.ivc, tin ir
ii. n. ml .■..n.liti..n.
Uhil.' .il.l. nn- ;i. y.'f ,|iiiti' I'.w in niiiiili.T in Mniiitulin. tli.v ,iri- iii.T ii.inw. ninl
\. nil till' .|iriiiil III 11 ix.'il I'liriiiiiif tli. y nr. Mir.' In lii'.iiiii.' in. .re i'.iiniii..ii. .\.> iip-t..-
iliil. ihiiry tnriii i- . .mijilit • witlii.iit a ^il... nml f.ir ..lli.r typ.'- of ntiiiiinl liu.linmlry
lli.y nri' nini.i-l n. nc.'.lfnl.
Till' n.niiil lil.i is Mill, h tn In. |,r.l'.rr.'.| t.i ili.. 1. ,ir -i.l .1 .m,-. 'I'ln' .'..riiiTt nf
''"■ Inllir IS" iiiii'Vcii srttliiiy nn.l iin- in.ir.' snnjiit tn :i .nil.l nini . fziiiff. A t-'ront
" .^ "'' '•"' f'"'^' 'il'"< liiii'li' w.Ti' .if this latter typ,' nn.l v...-,. ina.U' liy lioiinlinn up
a . i.rn. r .if a iii.iw in n l.arii. Tiny nr. Inr^i'ly liiiiiK r.'|iln.'..| liy .'yliinlrii'nl .il.is ..f
.. '111. Ill nr wii.i.|.n -lav istriii li.in. These tw.i Intt. r ar.' the l« st fy|«'s .,f .il...
I 111 .■.in.'iit siln hn. the a.lvnntn(j,' nf s.-liility aii.l .liirahilily. There is n,i .laiiKer
nl il. Iieiii}f hl.iwn nver liy .iiiiin.r win.ls. ami if w.'ll nin.lo it will In-t sev.rnl Ml."
lilii... The \v.ioil"ii slave siln has tli.. n.lvniitiiKe nf .'heiipn.ss ami nf liiint' I.— siihj.'.'t
to fre.'/.inR than is the e.ii I'lit. \V,. li.liev,. that it is tin- ninr.' .lesirnhle sil.i f.,r ii..' in
Maiiit.ilia, wli. r.' I..w winter t iiipi ratiires n;ake th.' free/iiin of the .'n.ilni,'e n <nii.
.i'l.inti.iii that le.s.ns th.' .i..irnliility i,\' .■.'in. nt. With n stnve siln. there is v.r.v
little of this ilitli.'iilty if th.' eii.ilau.' he iis..<l .mt iinifnriiily nn.l ii.it t.m sl.iwly. .\
stnve siln, if iiia.le of (lonil innterinl. will In.t lift. in ..r twenty years, sn that hi.'k nf
.liinil.ility is not ,il all a .. ri.ms nlije.-ti.m a-iiiLt it. Tile inetli.i.1 oi' cnnstriK'tiiiK
a .lav,' sih. will n.,t in- .lis.'ii.s.il in this hiill'tin, as it has he.'n well ih'Serihe.' hy
.1. II. (iri.ilale. l!..V^'r.. Dire.'t.ir nf Kxp.riin.ntal Farms, in liiill.tin Nn. .'I.".. 'The
Stave Sill,,' whi.'h may he nhlain.'.l l,y applyim.' t.. lli,. I'ulili.'atinns liran.'h, I) pari-
ir.elit nf Ajrri.'iiltiire. Ottawa.
I'lie iii'nr.'r tn full iI'Vi'Lipiiieiit that .■nrn .'an he lir.iii;;lit. th.' hett.T the frraile of
.iisiln^v it will imike. With the h.'st eff.irt. that .'an h.' ma. I.' in Maiiitnha hnth in
seleitiiiff varieties ami in .ultivatin^' for the hast.nini: nf maturity, .'nrn f.ir the .sil.i
is likely tn h ' rather ..ii ih.' -ireeii si.le. Th.' .inality ..f the ensilage mn.l. from flii.
e.irii .nil he .'.insi.lerahly iiiiprov.-.I if th.' .'.irii ho allow.'il to lie on the (ri'(!iin.l for
tili.Mit liv.' ilays nr a week afl." it ' .nt hy the himh'r hef.ire it is ent up ami sl.ire.l i;i
ill ■• .iln. This lines niit a lilt:.' nf th.- -iipiTriiiniis m.iistiire nn.l hriiiKs on a iiiatiir-
iiii.' !,rn.'ess in the .talks that makes an i'lisihi:'.- <.f less ix'i.lity tliaii is C'ht.um-.! f r -m
u-reeii corn taken .lire.-tly t.> tie .il...
On.' nf the prin.'ipal .litti.ini i.'s in the way nf the <irnifrr niloiiliaii of silos is tli(>
enst of si]n-tillins,r e.|iiipnii'iit. It i. in'i-essary t.i have a iiiaeliiiie f.i cut pp the <'orn
and ek'VHtc it to llic top i^l llic >ilci .iii'l |;..«ir l(p (lrl\" -iirli .1 niae'hiiic. I'licrc arc
two types of euttintr bux in ns., ninl it will (li'inini on tlic jiowit available wliii'li i<
fho bitter to use. The ciittiii^' lii>\ witli iikH'ss ciiain elevator is tin- cliiniper Uini!
ami can he run with a twn-|i(irsc> ti i'| pnucr or a sir. all pasoliue ciiniiic. It worl;~
much more slowly than a lilowrr iiml 1 horcfore i-aii he k^pt proinp with fewer men mikI
horses. Tin- kind of euttinfr ho.x is hc-t for a man wlio is fannim;- in a sir.all w:i,v
and has no powerful engine. The hlower type of euttine hox is ir.ueh faster and nioro
satisfai'tory wheri' there is work enoimh to justify it. It reijuires a larpe ensino (!■'''
li.p. or more') to drive it. and a trood stroiiir force of teams drawing in eorn to keep it
busy. Wherever a farmer has an eiifiine for ploiiirhinp or threshing it will pay him
to get a blower on aeeount of the savinjr of tiin- it permits. When silos becoir.e mon
.'onimoii it will be possible for tlireshiiiir ri;aehine owners to run a silo-filling outfit as
well. It would prevent niiieh lost time, a> silo-tilling' can he done when it is too wet
to thresh from stocks.
The c'orn should be well mixed as it fall- in the silo. The draft from the bhjwer
carries the heavy stalks to one c'oriuT aiul the leaves to another. The leaves will
mould if left by themselves and should he mix-il anion;; the heavy parts. There is
not n:ueli advantage in tram|)ing the hulk of the eorn in a silo. So great a weight
eomes on it that the tran-.pini: nud'ies little difference. It is better, however, to tramp
around the <'dge as the friction of the sides of the silo hinders settling and tramping
helps to niak" the settling more uniform. It is also advisable to tramp the last few
feet at the top. A silo cannot be filled completely all at once. To get the greatest
ipiantity in. it should be filled oiu'e. then allowed to settl" for a few days, then filled
again, ami even the third or fourth -iuu' tin re will he room for a lot more. DitTerent
coverings for the ensilage are recommended, such as wet cut straw, etc. Anything
that is f(di<l and airtight is satisfactory. There is nothing better or more convenient
than the corn itself. If the top is tramjied and left alone, about six inch.>s will rot
and provide an airtight protection for tic- balance.
i;siN<i i:xHiL.\Gi;.
The silo is eu:ptied from the top downwards. The -urfa<'e of the (^nsilage should
be kept as nearly level as possible except that it should b? a little lower around the
edge. This will lessen the danger of freezing in cold weather. It should be lowered
uniforndy, and feeding from it cannot be discontinued once it is begun or the tofi
will spoil. If any ensilag? freezes to the walls it is not injured and can be fi^d a-
soon as it thaws out.
Ensilage may be fed directly to cattle just as it comes from the silo. It is better.
however, to mix it with cut straw or hay in the proportion of about six pounds of < usiLi;;.
to one pound of hay or straw. A full-grown cow will eat from o(> to 5U pouiuls ol
this mixture per day. The meal to he fed tr.ay be thrown on top of this mixture after
it is in the numger. As both ensilage ami straw are rich in carbohydrates, the fat-
and meat-forming constituents ami deficient in proteids, the muscle and milk-forming
constituents, they do not constitute a properly balanced ration for any elas- -f stock.
and particularly so for growing young stock and milking cows. To give be. rcstdts.
they should be fed in conjunction with clover and alfalfa hay and bran or oat chop.
These latter feeds are higher in proteids and help to balance the highly carbonaceous
corn an<l straw.
COST or coitN i;(,)I"Ipmi:nt
The <-o.-.t of Miitable equipment for corn-gre.wing ami ensiloing in ^Manitoba on
a moderately large scale (!.") to 2."> acres annually K assuming tiiat seeding is don" with
a grain drill and thai an eiiL'ine i< .-ivailalile. is m< follows: -
Killiiij; tl.c-il,,
Ki'.diiii.' tlif .-ii-ihii,''-.
Twu-horsc ciiltiviitipr if !!•
Oiic-liorsc riiltiviitiir 10
f'orii binder ltir>
Cutting bi>x (hlciwcr) I4!t
Stnvo siln, L'<Ki toll cni itv. ;ili'int 4<W)
Of the sp('ciiill.v-(lt'vi.-."il iiiciiii-i of plutitiu^. tiic tost is: lliiiiii ))liiiitiT mid lioiiu'-
niado niorkcr, $5 or k'<s: corn drill ( twodiornr), sf.'iO, The other kind of euttin;^ box
(chain elevator) eosts $104.
The avernjie life of tiiese impleiiients should b" from eight to fifteen years, and
of the silo from fifteen to twenty years. Taking twelve years as the average life of
the whole eiiuipnient, the yearly cost would be abont $0.').
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