Corn Growers 1 Associatio?i. 361 



cut worms and insects ; in turning the soil up the eggs are broken 

 and we are not bothered with them. Further than that, we think 

 our soil holds moisture better through the season. In the breaking 

 of the soil, we all use jointers. The jointer is more valuable to 

 me than the plow. It is in fact a small plow that fastens on to the 

 beam in front of the regular plow and this fills the trash in the 

 bottom of the furrow and leaves the soil in better condition for a 

 seed bed. I would advise you all to buy a jointer. It will fit most 

 any plow, and if it don't fit the plow you have, throw it away and 

 get a new one. It will pay you to do it. Where there is quite a 

 little trash in opening up the land, it is most generally necessary 

 to remove the jointer until you get the land open. After you once 

 get the land open, you can plow very trashy ground. I would ad- 

 vise, where fall plowing is practiced, that you do not let it lie in 

 the spring and dry out. I think that is one of the greatest mis- 

 takes which farmers make in fall plowing. You should get into 

 the land in the spring just as soon as possible, just as soon as the 

 ground is in condition, not too wet, even if you expect to work it 

 up later on ; because if you let the ground once dry out it is almost 

 like breaking it new if inclined to run together at all. You should 

 not, however, work with the ground when it is the least bit wet 

 at any time, because it injures the soil and also the crop. 



Preparing the Seed Bed — I am a great believer in the prepara- 

 tion of the seed bed. I think we cannot be too careful in preparing 

 the seed bed. In fact I think it is well, after we think we have a 

 good seed bed, to go over it again two or three times to be sure we 

 have got a good seed bed. We should more than satisfy ourselves. 

 I think there is no time in the history of the corn crop when we 

 can cultivate the corn as well as before planting it. You can cul- 

 tivate all of the ground at this time and it is the best cultivation 

 you can give it. 



Kind of Corn, Number of Grains Per Hill, etc. — Now, I may 

 get into trouble when I say that I prefer checked planting. How 

 many like this plan? Quite a number, I see. 



As to the number of grains to the hill, that depends upon what 

 we expect to do with our corn. I believe that if we do not care for 

 quality we can get more corn with three stalks to the hill on good 

 soil than we can with two, but if we look to quality, I believe that 

 we can accomplish more by two stalks to the hill than we can with 

 three. I would have two stalks in every hill if I could have my 

 way, for if we have a complete stand with two stalks to each hill, 

 with an ear of corn on each stalk weighing a pound, we are grow- 



