XIII. 



MAIZE. 



CULTURAL METHODS. 



296. Time of Plowing. — The evidence appears conclusive 

 that the question of time of plowing relates to economic farm 

 management rather than to differences in comparative yields. 

 The experimental evidence on the subject of fall and spring 

 plowing is meager and inconclusive. At the Nebraska Sta- 

 tion^ much better yields of grain were 

 obtained from plowing in September 

 than in April, but no material difference 

 was obtained from plowing 

 in November than April. 

 There are fine clay soils 

 which become during the 

 winter, if fall-plowed, so 

 hard and compact as to 

 make the preparation of a 

 suitable seed bed at plant- 

 ing time a difficult task. 

 Usually, however, the frosts 

 of winter have a mellowing 

 influence and increase the ease of preparing the seed bed. As 

 fall plowing seldom affects the yield adversely, at least, it is gen- 

 erally good farm practice to plow in the fall those areas to which 

 manure is not to be applied during winter and spring. Early 

 plowing in the spring as compared with late plowing tends to 

 conserve the soil moisture both by preventing evaporation of 

 water and by increasing the amount of rainfall held. 



Single row stalk Cutter used for cutting up stalks, 

 where maize follows maize, to prevent stalks from 

 interfering with the operation of the cultivator. 



I Neb. Bnl. 54. 



