452 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



For grain purposes from 4 to 5 quarts per acre is sufficient, and for 

 silage purposes the rate of planting ranges from 5 to 8 quarts per acre. 



The depth of planting corn varies with the soil. On well drained 

 loams 11/2 to 21/2 inches is the proper depth and on heavy clay or clay 

 loams 1 to 2 inches. 



CULTIVATING CORN 



It is an excellent practice to harrow immediately after planting with 

 smoothing harrow. On heavy land it is safe to use a spike tooth harrow, 

 with teeth set slanting, until the corn appears above the ground. The 

 weeder may be employed until the corn is 6 to 8 inches in height. The 

 first cultivation with the corn cultivator may be made as soon as the 

 corn is high enough so that the rows can be easily followed. This 

 cultivation should be deep, at least 4 or 5 inches and close to the rows. 

 The second cultivation should come from 5 to 8 days later, and should 

 not be quite so deep. . Throwing dirt to the plants when making early 



22. Frequent shallow cultivations are necessary to control weeds and keep surface 



in good tilth. 



cultivations, covers and kills small weeds in row. The following culti- 

 vations should be made at intervals of one week to ten days, and should 

 be shallow, not going to more than 3 inches in depth. Care should be 

 taken not to approach too near the corn plants, in later cultivations, thus 

 causing injury through pruning feeding roots. It should be kept in mind 

 that after a period of 35 to 40 days' growth, the roots of the corn plant 

 interlace between the rows, and closely approaching the surface, filling 

 the space between the hills with a dense net-work of fine feeding roots. 

 Cultivation deeper than 2 or 3 inches or too close to the plant at this 

 time will cut these important feeding roots, and cause a decrease in 

 yield. 



From four to six cultivations are usual, depending on the season. 

 Additional cultivations generally give a slight increase in yield, but too 



