CORN. 313 



together, and that the largest varieties should never have more than three or four stalks to 

 the hillj and, in such a case, the distance between the rows should never be less than four 

 feet. &quot;Where only one or two stalks are grown in a hill, the distance could, of course, be 

 lessened. 



Dr. Sturtevant of Massachusetts, gives his opinion as follows: &quot;Distance for planting 

 must be governed by the necessities of the culture, and also regulated by the fertility and 

 other agricultural conditions of the field. In a droughty field it is well to plant sparingly, 

 as the corn-plant is a great evaporator of water, and many plants call for more water than do 

 few plants. Water which may not be sufficient to supply 3,500 hills to the acre may be 

 ample to supply 2,700 hills. It also requires more fertility in the land to carry a thick 

 planting through to maturity than would be used in a thin planting. The character of the 

 plant must also be considered, as a large, strong-growing variety will require greater space 

 for development than will a small-growing variety. 



The same principles which led me, on Waushakum Farm, to plant 6,223 hills (in drills) 

 per acre, might lead the farmer in the South or West to plant 2,722 hills. The like reason 

 ing and experience which leads me to use four kernels in a place might lead other farmers to 

 use one kernel, or five; in a word, there can be no unvarying rule. We should plant in the 

 way best fitted to meet the circumstances of our position. 



I plant in drills three feet and a half, hills in drills two feet apart, four kernels in a 

 place. This gives 6,223 hills, or 24,892 kernels, per acre. In careful experiment I have 

 found increase of crop to follow increased thickness of planting up to 45,000 kernels per 

 acre; but the necessities of farm culture and profit confine me to the number used, viz., 

 25,000. 



The depth of planting must necessarily vary with conditions. In the extreme southwest 

 the Indians punch a hole eighteen inches deep with a stick hardened in the fire, and, enclosing 

 the kernel of corn in a ball of moist mud, they drop it to the bottom and punch it down with 

 a stick. They do this in order to get moisture, and in that climate the temperature is suffi 

 ciently high at that depth of earth; they also secure apposition of the earth with the seed. 

 We must secure the like conditions; we must have moisture, heat, and contact of earth with 

 the seed. In this region about an inch and a half to two inches fulfills these conditions in 

 part, and pressure with the hoe or the machine completes. This statement illustrates how 

 the same principles may be secured in different ways, and brings out the facts of the essen 

 tials which are to be secured. 



The summary of rules for securing large and profitable crops of corn seems to be: 



1. Seed of a prolific variety. 



2. Shallow plowing and deep pulverization. 



3. Surface-manuring, and sufficient, but not overmuch, manure. 



4. Thick planting; early planting. 



5. Thorough and judicious cultivation, carried out with horse labor. 

 To be avoided: 



1. Poor or unknown seed. 



2. Insufficient or overmuch manure. 



3. Hand labor. 



The seed should be well covered, about two inches being a depth suited to a moderately 

 moist, mellow soil; a sandy soil requiring more depth than clay. It is always well to drop one 

 or two more kernels in a hill than would be necessary for growth, in order to provide for the 

 kernels that may not germinate or produce healthy stalks, and when the plants are sufficiently 

 high, to make a selection of the feeblest, to pull up the latter, and leave only the thrifty and 

 healthy plants to mature. 



