The Bulletin. 



25 



The best and most economical way to apply this fertilizer is in the 

 drill before planting, though there is no objection to dividing the 

 application into two parts, putting one-half in the drill before plant- 

 ing and applying the other half as a side dressing around July first, 

 according to season and growth of crop. It is certain that quanti- 

 ties of 400 pounds and less of fertilizer should not be applied 

 broadcast. 



Varieties, Culture, and Fertilization of Corn on Piedmont Red Clay 

 Loam, Red Clay and Valley Soils. 



Experiments have been conducted for seven years with fertilizers 

 and varieties of corn on the red clay loam soil of the Iredell Test 

 Farm. These results have been given in detail in the Bulletin. On 

 basis of these results and other information which we have the sugges- 

 tions below are given for the culture and fertilization of corn on the 

 red clay loams, red clays and valley soils of the Piedmont and the va- 

 rieties of corn which are best suited to them. 



Corn is an exhaustive crop on the soil, especially so when the 

 stover is also removed. On basis of present prices of fertilizer one 

 bushel of corn removes from the soil about 23 cents worth of plant 

 food. It would cost this much to return the plant food in a bushel 

 of corn to the soil in a commercial fertilizer. A fifty-bushel crop 

 of corn has, therefore, removed plant food to the value of between 

 $11.00 and $12.00. By good fertilization we have produced good 

 yields, and increases over unfertilized areas have been obtained at 

 D cost of 22,4 cents per bushel, which is practically the same as the 

 plant food in a bushel of corn. 



Preparation and Cultivation. — Corn delights in a thoroughly well 

 prepared soil. The land should be broken in the fall or early spring 

 to a depth of 6 or 8 inches and the soil may be gradually deepened 

 beyond this to advantage. Before planting cut up the land with a 

 disk harrow to get rid of clods and to make a good seedbed. Four 

 feet is a good width for rows. The distance the corn is left in the 

 row will depend on the productiveness of the land and should vary, 

 usually, between 15 and 30 inches. The fertilizer on these soils 

 should, as a rule, be put in the drill before planting and the com 

 planted just below the level. Weeders and light harrows may be 



