112 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



CULTIVATION. 



It is not possible at this time to go much into details, and of course 

 methods will vary greatly with local conditions, but there are a few 

 things of importance often overlooked. 



Many think that there is nothing more to do after the corn is planted 

 for two weeks until it is up and large enough for the "first cultivation." 



There are others who believe in harrowing and even in cultivation 

 before the corn is up, but on account of the pressure of work, neglect it. 

 Where ground is left in this manner for two weeks and often longer, 

 it becomes foul with weeds, which take up moisture and plant food 

 and make it difficult to work the corn. The ground is packed by the 

 rains and baked by the sun, until it becomes hard and dry ; that is, "out 

 of condition." 



It is especially important in the case of corn that it should not be 

 stunted when young, as it never fully recovers even under the most favor- 

 able conditions. 



We should keep a good, mellow, lively tilth until the corn shades 

 the ground, preventing the rain and sun from beating upon it, making 

 it hard, dry and mealy. 



The time to kill weeds is before they come up and before they have 

 deprived the corn of moisture and nourishment. 



Where it is possible to do so it is a good plan to cultivate the corn 

 once before it comes up, following the planter with the harrow. If the 

 piece is small so that the cultivation can be finished before the corn 

 breaks through the surface, it is well enough to wait until the field is all 

 cultivated and then cross it with the harrow instead of following close 

 behind the cultivator. However, in the case of large fields, it is best 

 to follow the cultivator with the harrow. 



It is a common practice with some to harrow corn after it is up, 

 but I prefer to cultivate and harrow as described above and especially 

 on corn stalk ground. Even on stubble ground the harrow does con- 

 siderable damage to the young corn. No one can afford to do less than 

 to thoroughly harrow the ground before the corn comes up. It is a 

 serious mistake to let our corn ground once get out of condition in the 

 spring. 



It is also a very common mistake to cultivate shallow when the corn 

 is small and lay it by with a deep cultivation. The reverse would be 

 more profitable. There is little danger to the roots from deep cultivation 

 the first time, and there is great advantage in going deep enough to 

 secure a good mulch. 



