CHAPTER III 

 PLANTING 



WHEN TO BEGIN PLANTING 



Since the most mature corn is always the result of early 

 planting, the farmer should make every effort to have his 

 ground in shape by the time of year that planting is generally 

 begun. Then, if the ground is too cold, he should wait until 

 it warms up. We have made numerous germination tests 

 which have convinced us that corn will not germinate or grow 

 to advantage when the temperature of the soil is below sixty 

 degrees. If the temperature is below fifty degrees for a week 

 or ten days, some of the sprouted grains, although the seed 

 is of the very best, will rot in the ground. 



From the fifth to the twentieth of May is considered the 

 best time to plant corn in Central Illinois. The time varies, 

 in any locality, from one to two weeks, depending on the 

 soil and the weather. In the western part of Mason County, 

 which is very sandy, planting can safely be started a week 

 or ten days earlier than in the eastern part, where there is 

 a heavier loam which does not warm up so quickly as the 

 lighter soil. 



An old-time general rule was to "Plant corn when the 

 leaves on the white oak tree are as large as a squirrel 's foot. ' ' 

 There is considerable significance in this fact, as the oak is 

 tardy in showing its leaves until the ground has had its spring 

 warming. Another good rule is to wait until volunteer corn 

 has started to grow around the cribs and barns. If the season 

 is very backward and the weather-man assures us that warmer 



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