ALABAMA
Agricultural experiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
AUBURN
CIRCULAR No. 24
November, 1913.
IN FORMATION
ON
CORN GROWING
CORN CLUB BOYS
L. N. DUNCAN and J. B. HOBDY
Opelika, Ala.
Post Publishing Company
1913
COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION.
HON. R. F. KOLB -- -_
HON. H. L. MARTIN
HON. A. WV. BELL. _-_-
--- - - - - - -- - - - - - -M ontgomery
-- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - O zark
------- -- - - - - - - - - -- A nnigton
STATION STAFF
C. C. THACH, President of the College.
J. F. DUGGAR, Directcor of Experiment Station.
D)EPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION.
AGRICULTURE
J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist.
E. F. Cauthen, Associate.
M. J. Funchess, Assistant.
J. T. Williamson, Field Agent.
L. J. Hawley, Field Agent.
H. B. Tisdale, Assistant.
VETERINARY:
C. A. Cary, Veterinarian.
I. S. McAdory, Assistant.
CHEMISTRY:"
B. B. Ross, Chemist, State Chemist
J. T. Anderson, Chemist, Soil, Crops
C. L. Hare, Physiological Chemist.
T. Bragg, First Assistant.
S. Adler, Assistant.
EXTENSION:
L. N. Duncan, Superintendent.*
J. B. Hobdy, Assistant. *
N. A. Negley, Assistant*
Mrs. Birdie I. Robinson*
Chas. S. Jones, Assistant*
BOTANY:
J. S. Caidwell, Botanist.
A. B. Massey, Assistant.
PLANT PATHOLOGY:
F. A. Wolf, Pathologist.
HORTICULTURE:
Ernest Walker, Horticulturist.
J. C. C. Price, Associate.
G. V. Stelzenuller, Field Agent.
ENTOMOLOGY:
W. E. Hinds, Entomologist
J. E. Buck, Assistant.
J. A. Dew, Field Agent.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY:
G. S. Templeton. An'l Husbandman.
E. S. Girton, Assistant.
S. S. Jerdan, Assistant.*
A. R. Gissendanner, Assistant.
J. A. McLeod.
*In co operation with United States Depart rent of Agriculture.
INTRODUCTORY
AUBURN, ALABAMA, October, 1913.
To the Members of the Boys' Corn Clubs:
We sincerely hope that each boy receiving this circular will
fully realize that the objects of the Boys' Corn Club are not
simply to grow more corn, make large yields and win prizes.
Of course we wish you to learn all about successful corn growing;
but what is far more important and what we would have each
boy, who joins the corn club, fully understand, is that farming is
one of the noblest callings that man can follow, and that it is
the one great calling which all mankind should look upon with the
greatest respect.
The farmer must feed and clothe the world. In order to have
the best there is in life, in education, home life, religion and all
other things which pertain to civilization, we must have a bounti-
ful yield from our soil. You should have the greatest respect
for the earth, mother earth, because from her comes all life and
if she should cease to produce crops, we should at once cease to
exist.
You should be proud of Alabama, for there are few states
offering so many golden opportunities for success. Alabama is
rich in fine timber, mineral and coal deposits, long river navi-
gation and water power, but, above all, her rich fields and valleys,
her long growing season, her ample rainfall and her gentle and
mild climate combine to make her one of the foremost states in
the Union in agriculture. Every young Alabamian on the farm
should realize this, should carefully study the business of farming
and should look forward some day to owning a farm, living on
it and cultivating it in an intelligent, scientific way, thus making
an abundant living, being a noble citizen and serving God in
the highest and best sense. These are some of the high prin-
ciples which we hold before every boy who joins the Boys' Corn
Club.
In the future the greatest opportunities for wide awake, intel-
ligent, energetic young men are in farming. Be faithful in
your club work and let us together build of our state a great
Empire in itself, and as we do this, make wealth and happiness for
ourselves.
Train your mind to think and plan; train your hands for
service; train all your body to be strong and well, so as to resist
disease; and above all, train your heart to follow in the paths of
righteousness.
Join the Boys' Corn Club for study, for development and for
service. Do not enter for a few days or weeks and then drop
out, but remain with us and let us help you, for we are deeply
interested in you and all your good undertakings.
Sincerely your friends,
L. N. DUNCAN,
J. B. HOBDY.
2 r
---- I
A
I~ I-.\Iahanma Uee4,i~ t
Ik t 1' L t I 1
"c
I .''r. a.ret* our lt'.lirii princile' of agrit tiltor' irixoixid int
mraking at successfuil orb crop
.1. I' cr1 ili,.,ttioit.
!. I l t ri rlota.
1out atnot expe l to raise ting' hogs f romr sc'rubs nor should
yot cxjit et to rio.. to' htst anid moost corn per acr'- unless y ou
tale g'ood see.c It is pot silet to miak.' fromt t'il'e to tilt'.- bihlols
oft corn itnore per to r-*- tromt good seed than frout poor saed withI
the ameti~ soil, fertitlizatiotn, cultiv at ion anti without addtitiottal
cost. It is %cry profitale-, the.refor,. for cx ery boy joining tita'
'o01 cilubi 
t
o strict to hau' go'od, imrproxe seed c''' orn. Yout shtotuld
gt tilt' xery be.'tt . 't poat'i ble to eg itt w~it h anrd thlin pay x ery
car'fu aiitttntion to ke. pitig it good or a" 'tt imaproving it.
1, hell ll x' e t': ' Woi d 'tn It' it ,m r iT o ' i ot hi'. =Mll' Ii
is wel ad1 lapt to tllt '-oil atrd ( lirtmic cotnditionst of ytotr tfirn,
It is art tox titter to ittilrox.' cotrri by sted s'Ict' ion. If yolt
sele' 4 ach yat' te ht' eitst ears f romr th hosl.'t plaints, you art'
batoutd to imtpr oxe the' cttrn. heausae yott art' atlways using staed
riro the' stronig.st ttrtd betl plantts antd tars anti re'jectintg the
poorst
Ilegini titl wxork of st'tec'ing in lthe fietld xxher. x'ou can stitdy
ttia planrt as well as th li' at'.. It tht' e'arly fall xxhen the' torm
1a gins t0 luatutin, go otxcr th lit' ldh and~ maitrk the' stalks frotmt
whi h colt wxish to get statd. This ouight It. tlont' hy tearing uip
t rips of tuld c'lothl antd tying on the stalks. Allow these plants to
thiorouigly miature', then 'uut thet plant off ahov e and below the
ears, take them in and store them where they will be safely taken
care of through the winter. When ready to plant carefully select
the best seed ears from these two-eared plants.
The large number of experiments made by the experiment sta-
tions and the department of agriculture shows that corn having
two good ears on the stalk makes the greatest number of bushels
per acre. In selecting stalks from which to get seed ears, mark
only those that have two good, well developed ears on them.
Always see that the stand is good on all sides of the plants
which you mark, because stalks near long skips may make two
ears on account of the distance apart of the plants and not on
account of the quality of the seed.
The corn plant should be medium in height, free from suckers
and well developed with a good leaf system. The ears should be
from 3 1/2 to 4 feet from the ground. The ear stalk or shank
should be mediulm in length and curve over so that the tip
of the ear points downward. The shuck or husk should come
well out over the end of the ear for protection.
A good length for an ear of corn is from 8 1/ to 9 inches and
a good cireumference or size is from 71/2 to 8 inches around the
ear about three inches down from the large end. The ear should
be nearly cylindrical, that is, it should taper very little or none
from the large end towards the small end. The rows of grain
should be straight or nearly so and should extend well out over
both ends of the cob. The grains or kernels should be of good
length, Wedge shaped, and should fit together closely on the
cob.
PREPARATJON OF SEED BED AND PLANTING.
Perhaps the best soil for corn is a rich, well drained loam,
but with the proper care and treatment good yields may be made
on nearly any well drained soil, which is not too poor in fertility.
For prize acres it is best not to select low wet land, which is
subject to overflows. The entire acre, 4,840 square yards, should
lie in one body and should not have large open ditches running
through it nor large stumps or trees on it, if possible.
In making a successful acre of corn it is very important to
thoroughly prepare the land. In most cases where the soil will
permit, it may be best to break the land in the fall and sow some
oats, wheat, rye or clover as a winter cover crop to prevent wash-
ing and leaching of the soil. This crop may be grazed during the
winter by animals or cut for hay or turned under in the spring
to improve, the soil. The soil should be well broken, going two-
or. three inches deeper than it has ever been broken, before. You
should have a soil from six to ten inches deep, but it may take-
two or three years to get down this deep, going gradually deeper
achi y ar. Of conurse deep sandy or loose 
loanm soils may not
need this deep 1 ciak~in g. If su h-Foiling is dono, b e sure that
the subsoil i K. If fall plonking is done, or if 
wxinter cover
crops ar- sox, n. ht may I) nccessar- to re-break~ 
in thle spring
just before platinig. Ifth si.ioil is vry r-ogh, a disc harrow
maytt le used and I h ii a smoolhiin' hiarrow. Thii preparation 
for
th. bei ad i o! of ili, tos t impert ant siteps inOw malitiiing
I% I.. IiX \
ot a succr st'l cop and it should1( ii xery thoroughly 
andl care-
A great many bobs, xxho mnake large yields of corn, hbal 
the
Ilnd andl plant1 in the wxakle furon. 'lhis is 
an excellent plan-
,Nc-pt on loo , we t land or ver hcxu bc- lay land.
I~n good land wlf- the ron's -1 to 5 f'1e apart 
and leave the
I-lants 12 to 15 in 1 es inthle drill, If tie loa is very 
fertile
or if' large amounts of fe.rtilizer atv iuuld, plants may 
he left
Illickcr inl the drill. n 1 op rT ittold L t 11 
plants farther
aatI "'~ay from 1 \ to ;n iucto lo
For- tragi lImia tmix liii pouinds of tocid pholasphlateo 
illi 200)
Pou nds oif cott1on seed meal an I o pol oun)1)11lds of leaintoi A.pply- 
Ihis
ixtue at tihe rate oh Llo pounods peracre. 
.A largitr amount
-may be used, if you think wise, but you 
should be careful how
much you use on account of the expense. 
On heavy clay lands
that have been well and deeply prepared 
you may wisely leave
,out half of the kainit. On land following a growth of cowpeks
or clover you may omit half of the cotton seed meal. 
If fer-
tilizer is used at planting, it should be put in opening 
furrow
and a plow run through it to thoroughly mix it with 
the soil
before the corn is dropped.
On average land it may be wise to save all or at least two-
thirds of the above fertilizer mixture and apply it along the
side of the growing corn at the first and second cultivations.
Most of the acid phosphate, meal and kainit should be applied,
however, before or by the time the corn is 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall.
If the corn does not have a dark, rich color and is not doing
-well just tefore it is ready to fruit, apply from 100 to 200
pounds of nitrate of soda to the corn. This is a very quick
'acting fertilizer and for this reason it should not be applied
until the corn is ready to use it. Most of the boys, who make
large yields of corn and use nitrate of soda, distribute it along
*on each side of the row just before the corn begins to tassel.
If you prefer to use a ready mixed fertilizer, apply about 500
pounds of a high grade guano. You might be goverened
in using this as above, that is, save all or two-thirds of your
-guano and apply it along on each side of the growing corn.
Most of it should be in the ground by the time the corn is 2 1
to 3 feet tall. Nitrate of soda should be used as indicated above.
Barn-yard manure is an excellent fertilizer for corn, if prop-
-erly used. It is perhaps best to apply it broadcast before break-
ing the land. A harrow run over it before breaking will help to
'crush the large lumps and thoroughly distribute the manure.
It is doubtful if it is wise to apply the manure in the drill under
the corn, as this will cause too large a growth of the stalk and
injure the corn very much in case of drought.
If it is necessary to apply manure in the drills, open a large
furrow out in the center of the middle, apply the manure in this
and cover it. As the corn is cultivated the manure will gradually
be plowed out towards the corn, mixed with the soil, and the
-corn will get the full benefit of it without so much danger of
injury from it.
When heavy applications of manure are used it may not be nec
-
*essary to apply any commercial fertilizer except acid phosphate,
using this at the rate of from 200 to 400 pounds per acre. Ni
-
trate of soda may also be used at the rate of from 100 to 200
pounds per acre just before tasseling time, if the corn is not
doing as well as it should.
(I ''111 1TiION..
Thii tNlo min olijcis 5in clilatiol ar., first, to kill ihe Nk."ds
and, second, to mnake a loos dulst mul h of thii top soil, in order
to prex ent I in loss of mioistuire.
the 0111 cltil lox , NVh fn iiils tine 'eordls, ru11 a lislit harrow
vee thle corn la-lore it is. up. it iih. Loil iicomiis hard and
ronlijact, onei ieip tiltixatiii mol h, gixin xx l, 
Ihi' corn i.s
5, x giin T[I, corn shiouldl b" cnltix lid reguilarlx elver). six to
is ry ough after :t rain, in ordfertol kill all weeds 
thlt may
come ti 1 t of si h suf aindf pri xi lt loss of I Ioisture.
R ix
it
KY I
.co 01 . I iir
\\hen liii corn stalls off growing. it is not iery long 
until
,it- -ntir sil for several inches ileep is filled wxithf 
the root
tiystemi. T.lhese roots arc very, vitail and imipourtanit 
to the life of
the corn, hinci thiey should not lie distulrbedf too( 
much0 in the
cultliva tin s.
A spring toothP harrow is an e xcel lent inipl men I to 
culitivate
witls, as the work can lie done rapidly xxit h it 
and1( thle danger
of injury to the corn roots is not so great. A short 
scooter wxith
it id 11?, 1--1 crop is als gcod 1 ( 111r 441 (41in conin e ra 114
ath14 weed nilal ve I : d14 tli. ro14i to nl~' of 144 cropli\ such
Co~rnis ce. oft1 n ')1 I laid Ix 14o' soon.1 11' ihe cu1l1i1ations ar.
unil after If," f141m ried Ii i1 e Ipy (,t I i4.4 Ir~sast n it -
very impor)4t1 t1 .441 r ik Ill- lath 11I1i1144145 4,-Iy shal-
low,4 ;ui' I tr i ; " irs .1.. hi of1 flit. soiil 4 ir lll as- po1s-
q
-"V -.1~
11F
-P
II
('\(I Is ).N.
I e ytII 4(4 I 1 l 'k i do 1o 1)1' 11cre of corn fron the li 4 itle
13(ti re lo reord th i l , IIH ' oun104ti an td nuH iw ohi f appl icat ion
of all 11(1114411 a d ril -ri uI, 5 sed. (;e-t you i4 smttill note1 hoo4k
and w~rite- dom411 IulIy c-lh-lim jus11 whl1at 41 ou did toth Iland111
and~ ltir' co(rn.
At the endu of1 fltn season0 4. 4111 send4 you1 full directions for
gathering and( meaIsuing your 44o1n1 W\ wi- also s41n0 yo14u'0 a
blank to use in mliin~ig out1 a r-port on1 yourI crop.
At any fin wh11 n w,, may btV' tt , of1 -,e~r 1 o i ou 1rit( 4toa 4 us.
Y