EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



453 



many cultivations may cost more than the increase in yield will pay 

 for. The number of cultivations necessary will depend on the season 

 and the condition of the land. It is imperative that cultivation be suffi- 

 ciently frequent to effectively control weed growth. Thorough prepara- 

 tion before planting will lessen the number of cultivations necessary as 

 compared to land not so well fitted. 



Cultivators carrying numerous small shovels or blades, designed 

 to accomplish thorough surface cultivation, have rapidly displaced the 

 old type of corn cultivators carrying larger and fewer shovels. 



23. After forty days' growth corn roots interlace between the rows close to the surface. 

 Shallow cultivation is advisable to prevent pruning of surface feeding roots. 



HARVESTING CORN FOR GRAIN 



Corn is ready to harvest when fully mature or when growth is stop- 

 ped by heavy frost. In Michigan the usual method is to cut and shock, 

 husking later from the shock and storing in cribs. 



Under average conditions, the moisture content in Michigan corn, 

 at the time of harvest, ranges from 25 to as high as 40%. It is, there- 

 fore, advisable to store in cribs properly constructed to offer proper 

 ventilation. The cribs should be made narrow, or if broad, should be 

 provided with central ventilation, made of properly spaced boards or 

 of wire attached to frames. 



The accompanying picture No. 24, shows crib, constructed by Dean 

 R. S. Shaw of the Michigan Agricultural College, for storing ear corn. 

 This crib has given excellent service during years when ear corn was high 

 in moisture content, 



HARVESTING FOR SILAGE 



It has been estimated that from 40 to 50% of Michigan's corn crop 

 goes into the silo. In many counties of northern Michigan 90% of the 

 corn crop is grown for silage purposes. The widespread use of the silo 

 has carried corn growing to many counties in northern Michigan. Dur- 

 ing years of early fall frosts the presence of a great number of silos in- 

 sures the safety and the proper harvest and most economical use of a 



