182 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



throug-hout the entire experiment. The east strip grew roots in 1897, the west strip 

 was in oats that year, and was plowed in the fall. The preparation of both strips 

 was as follows: 



Plowed May 17th and 18th; harrowed with spring tooth harrow. May 23d; cross 

 haiTowed with spilce tooth harrow, and rolled the same day. 



May 24th, planted with two horse planter to Hathaway Yellow dent corn. Worked 

 with a weeder May 28th. 



The plots in each strip were numbered from 1 to 4 consecutively from east to west, 

 and the treatment of lilie numbers was exactly the same. Plot 1 had no cultivation. 

 Plot 2 had frequent cultivation, depth three inches. Plot 3 had frequent cultivation, 

 depth five inches. Plot 4. had ordinary cultivation, depth five inches. By ordinary 

 cultivation we mean cultivated as in or-ijuary practice. 



A "Gale" two-horse cultivator was used until the corn became too large for a 

 two-horse cultivator, after which a "Planet Jr." one-horse cultivator was used. The 

 following is a record of the cultivation throughout the season: 



Plots 2 and 3 werp worlied with a weeder June 3d, 8th, and 18th; with the Gale 

 cultivator June 14th, 20th, 2.5th. July 2d, 4th, 5th, and 11th, and with the 

 Planet Jr. cultivator July 20th, 29th, August 4th, 12th. 19th, 27th, and September 5th. 

 Plot 4 was cultivated with the Gale cultivator June 14th, 20th, July 4th and 5tu, and 

 11th. The cultivation July 4th and 5th was across the plot, and was the only cultiva- 

 tion in this direction that the plots received. July 20th to 23d the weeds were cut 

 from all of the plots except No. 1, care being taken to disturb the soil as little as 

 possible. 



It should be noted that at all times care was taken to cultivate only when the soil 

 was in fit condition. For this reason cultivation was not done at regular intervals. 

 The cross cultivation Ju^y 4th and 5th was to a depth of four inches. A mistake 

 was made in allowing the cultivator to go below a depth of three inches in Plot 2, 

 as wherever the cultivator teeth penetrated the undisturbed soil many corn roots 

 were injured. 



The following observations were made during the season: 



July 2d, soil very much more compact on Plot 4 than on Plots 2 and 3. Plot 1 

 begins to show the effects of lack of cultivation as the corn has a yellowish tinge 

 and is rather spindling. The ground in this plot is now completely covered with 

 weeds. 



July 5th, unthrifty condition of Plot 1 in botu strips more marked than before. The 

 moisture in Plot 4 is within one-half inch of the surface, while on Plots 2 and 3 

 there is a mulch of from one to two inches of dry earth. 



July 11th, Plot 2 of the east strip more even and thrifty than any other plot and 

 noticeably larger. Plot 2 on the west strip also more even than the other plots 

 but there is no marked difference in the size of the corn. 



July 22d, east strip. Plot 1 has made no growth lately and is dying badly. Plot 

 2 has a very even growth and is just tasseling. Plot 3, corn somewhat smaller than 

 in Plot 2 and not so even; not so far along in tassel. Plot 4, similar to Plot 3. 



July 22d, west strip. Corn not so far along as in east strip. Plot 1 shows the 

 same unfavorable conditions as in the east strip. Plot 2 not so much larger than 

 Plots 3 and 4, but shows the same even growth as in the east strip. Plots 3 and 4 

 same as in the east strip. 



July 27th, corn in the east strip curling from the effect of dry weather. The hot 

 dry weather has affected Plots 2, 3 and 4 about alike. The west strip has not 

 suffered so much from dry weather. 



