Missouri Corn Growers' Association. 447 



GOOD CULTIVATION. 



We pass now to a consideration of the last of the three groups 

 of factors influencing the yield of corn — the care and protection 

 of the crop. These embrace all of the various cultural opera- 

 tions included in the preparation of the seed bed, planting and 

 cultivation of the crop which have for their purpose the pro- 

 tection of the crop from the various factors opposing its highest 

 development. 



Many of these factors are too well understood to warrant 

 their discussion in this connection, for the art of corn growing is 

 old though the science is new. Practices differ with soils, with 

 seasons and with custom. As for the seed bed, suffice it is to 

 say that it should be well prepared, the plowing usually deep, 

 especially on heavy soils, and the best part of the cultivation done 

 before the corn is planted. As our lands grow older and become 

 thinner with continued cropping, the preparation of the seed bed 

 becomes a more and more important factor in influencing the 

 yield of corn. Where corn is grown on as extensive a scale as 

 in the corn belt there is often a tendency to slight the seed bed 

 preparation, but with the present price of lands in the corn belt 

 the time is here when this factor can no longer be ignored. Con- 

 ditions should be made as favorable as possible for the young 

 plant at the very start if it is to reach its highest stage of develop- 

 ment. 



Functions of Cultivation. — The chief functions of the culti- 

 vation of corn are (1) to keep down weeds, (2) to conserve mois- 

 ture, (3) to aerate the soil, (4) to increase nitrification and (5) to 

 aid in making plant food available. Of these the eradication of 

 weeds is the most important and under normal conditions is the 

 chief purpose of cultivation. If the seed bed has been well pre- 

 pared the best part of the cultivation is done before the corn is 

 planted, and thereafter little stirring of the soil is necessary save 

 that required to remove the weeds. 



In dry seasons, especially early in the season while the 

 plants are yet small and where conditions more nearly approach 

 those of a fallow field, frequent cultivation may conserve mois- 

 ture by keeping a dust mulch on the surface to check evapora- 

 tion. It is not likely, however, that much moisture is saved in 

 normal seasons by cultivation after the corn reaches the height 

 at which it is ordinarily laid by. Much more moisture may be 

 saved by cultivation where the plants are small than after they 



