146 PRACTICAL CORN CULTURE 



Fanner friends, don't burn your cornstalks or your straw, both 

 are very valuable. Take your disc harrow and cut your stalks and see 

 how nicely they will plow under, by using a jointer on your plow. 

 We always plow the cornstalks under, because they are of great benefit 

 to the soil, by making it loose and porous, so the air can penetrate 

 and restore the plant food properties. 



The implements used in preparing the seed bed depends largely on 

 the weather conditions. If the ground has become packed, use a disc 

 harrow, then, if dry and cloddy, a drag or roller should be used, 

 followed by a section harrow. Sometimes two or three harrowings are 

 necessary, and if weather conditions indicate dry weather, I run a light 

 drag before the planter, if not I plant after the harrow. I never 

 prefer working down early plowed ground, because it becomes more 

 or less compact and requires more work to make a good seed bed. 



I plant my corn with a "Black Hawk" corn planter (the drill 

 type), using furrowing shovels or eveners to regulate the depth of the 

 corn, and by using good seed corn I am almost sure of a good stand 

 of corn. 



If it comes a heavy rain immediately after planting, I use a section 

 harrow before the corn comes up; this breaks the crust, and thus 

 prevents the tender corn from crooking and losing most of its vitality. 

 After the corn has all come up in good shape, and the weather is dry, 

 I start the roller, which pulverizes all remaining clods, then a section 

 harrow is used, which leaves the ground in a very fine condition. 



If possible I like for my corn to be three or four inches high for 

 the first cultivation, at which time I cultivate about four inches deep and 

 as close as possible. This stirs the soil well around the corn-roots and 

 starts it to growing. I use a six-shovel cultivator for all the cultiva- 

 tions excepting the last, for which time I prefer the disc cultivator. I 

 consider this implement the best for the last cultivation. 



I set the disc next to the corn very shallow and far enough apart 

 to plow all of the middle. By cultivating about two inches deep, this 

 method will make a nice, loose mulch of soil for the corn-roots to get their 

 nourishment from. 



I cultivate as many times as the corn will permit the use of a 

 cultivator, then if the weather is dry I use a one-horse harrow to keep 

 up the action of the moisture. 



If the farmers of this country would be more careful in selecting 

 their seed corn the yield would be much better. 



A. H. MYERS. 



