322 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



A few warm days and a shower following such harrowing will 

 start nearly all of the seeds near the surface, and it then becomes 

 a very easy matter to annihilate them before the corn is planted. 



When the larger ones are a half inch in height the field should 

 be double-disced, and after which, as soon as the surface shows a 

 sufficient drying condition to lighten its color, a dou'ole harrowing 

 (with spike-tooth harrow) will almost eliminate the consideration 

 of weeds from the field for the present season, with the exception 

 of the cockle-burs and morning glories. Crabgrass will come later, 

 however. 



This double harrowing should be at an angle across the field 

 (some fifty degrees), and a subsequent single stroke of the harrow, 

 driven the direction across the field that the rows are to run, pre- 

 pares an ideal seed bed, and we are ready for the planter. 



PLANTING. 



I prefer checking to drilling, although I drill a small piece in 

 a new orchard every year. Thicker planting can be indulged in 

 while checking, without its evil effects, for the reason that the sun- 

 light and air reaches the soil and the plants better. 



A uniform depth can approximately be maintained in the cov- 

 ering of the seed grains on soil prepared as above, and my choice 

 depth for average planting is 2i/4 inches, varying to shallower,, 

 when the ground is cold and damp, and to deeper when the ground! 

 is warm and dry. 



Thickness of stand will depend on the part of the state and the 

 type of corn grown, and in my section (southwestern section) the 

 heaviest yield is secured by planting two grains to the hill, checked' 

 40 by 42 inches. 



Accurate, uniform dropping is essential, and the only way I 

 know to secure that is by using seed of uniform grain in an edge- 

 drop planter. 



CULTIVATION. 



Between the two systems of cultivation, "deep" and "shallow,"* 

 I greatly prefer the latter in the main. Severe root pruning I think 

 very detrimental to the corn plant at any stage of its growth. How- 

 ever, I have carried out experiments that show one that slight root 

 pruning at the proper time is beneficial. I fully understand that 

 there are those whose teachings indicate that they do not agree with 

 me here. 



