CORN GROWERS ASSOCJATJON. lOQ 



ill favor of the fall plowing in the cum belt, yet the difference will gen- 

 erally not be as great as indicated by this year's results. The mistake 

 is commonly made of leaving the fall plowed ground without discing 

 until time to plant. The ground has become packed by the snow and 

 rain and should be disced or at least harrowed as soon as the oat seed- 

 ing is over. This will conserve the moisture and prevent the "firing" 

 of the corn in .\ugust, so common on fall plowing. 



Ground that is very rolling and likely to wash should not be plowed 

 in the fall. Early fall plowing is generally advisable where the stubble 

 ground is very weedy. 



In the corn belt where the area put into corn is large and the corn 

 planting period is short it is the best kind of management to fall plow 

 all stubble and sod ground. 



We should bear in mind that one of the most serious losses each 

 year to the corn crop is due to late planting. The experiments show 

 that late planted corn seldom yields as much as the earlier planted corn 

 and the quality is inferior. The ground becomes hard and out of con- 

 dition, the weeds have drawm upon the moisture and available plant food, 

 the corn comes to the dry spell in August at a more critical stage, and 

 it matures slowly, contains more water and is nuich more likely to be 

 caught by frost. 



Every year there are thousands and thousands of farmers who lose 

 htavily from late planting. Many of these are good farmers, but are 

 unexpectedly delayed with the spring work by a combination of bad 

 weather, sick horses and scarcity of help. 



This matter of readiness in the spring is of great importance in the 

 corn belt and is made all the more so because it is practically out of 

 the question to secure outside help at this time. 



As stated above, it is generally advisable to plow stubble ground 

 early in the fall. 



1st. The weeds which have started will be prevented from seeding 

 and the weed seeds will be brought near to the surface where they will 

 germinate and be killed by frost before seeding. 



2nd. This second growth of volunteer of oats, weeds, etc., will 

 protect the ground during the winter and keep the soil from blowing. 

 The late fall plowing has no such second growth and blows worse in 

 the winter. 



3rd. There is more spare time for the work. If the stubble ground 

 is left for late fall plowing it is apt to crowd the plowing of the sod 

 over into the spring, which is bad practice generally. 



The reasons for plowing sod ground in the late fall are : 



