INDIANA CORN GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 4G1 



THE' HOW AND THE WHY IN THE CULTIVATION OF CORN. 



The preparation of the seedbed should receive careful consideration; 

 not oulj' its depth, but the texture and the distribution of manure and 

 humus-making material from top to bottom. _ 



A seedbed seven inches to nine inches deep will pay any year, and 

 particularly in a dry season. 



If the subsoil is too near the top for such deep plowing it will pay to 

 go a little deeper each year, plowing under plenty of straw. Aveeds or 

 coarse manure to make it loose. 



To get this material well mixed with the soil, it is often advisable 

 to use a sharp disc harrow before the plow. When thoroughly harrowed 

 there will be no clods in the bottom of the furrow too deep to be pulver- 

 ized after the plowing is done. 



Disking liefore plowing will also prevent evaporation from the siu'- 

 face and the conse(iuent drying of the soil before it can be plowed. 



Having a thoroughly pulverized, moist seedbed it is desirable on most 

 soils to plant in shallow furrows three feet six inches to three feet ten 

 inches apart. If planted in furrows the roots will start deeper and the 

 gradual tilling of the furrows will prepare the plant to better withstand 

 both drought and wind. Moreover, tlie weeds can be more easily con- 

 trolled by this method. 



The first and often the second cultivation is with a harrow or weeder 

 preceded by a roller if necessary. .Sometimes the soil can not be prop- 

 erly prepared before the planting must be done. Under such conditions 

 the roller and harrow should be used before the corn comes up, running 

 the roller across and the harrow lengthwise of the rows. 



If used just when needed harrows and w(>eders will kill weeds cheaper 

 and better than any other tools. 



To air the soil after the corn is well up, a double cultivator with nar- 

 row shovels is used, allowing it to go deep, the fenders preventing too 

 much dirt from covering the corn. 



[Mr. Collins took issue with the speaker at this point, stating that 

 when a lai-ge growth of clqver is plowed into black soil it' is too loose 

 already. This was granted, but as very exceptional in clay land.] 



Unless the soil is compacted by heavy rains the next and all succeed- 

 ing cultivation is shallower, but the root growth be not disturbed. 



The cultivation continues until ears are formed, using one-horse tools, 

 i. e., cultivators, harrows or drags. A board clamped to the rear of the 

 one-horse cultivator will regulate the depth and assist in making a sur- 

 face mulch, the object of these late cultivations being to check evapora- 

 tion, that all available soil moisture may be used to perfectly mature the 

 plant. 



