144 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



mellowed and young weeds are destroyed. As soon 

 as the corn is five or six inches high the use of the 

 two-horse cultivator is begun. This straddles the 

 row, cultivating both sides at once. The cultiva- 

 tors are now kept running constantly, first in one 

 direction and then in the other, until the corn is so 

 high that it can be no longer straddled without in- 

 jury. By this time it shades the ground so completely 

 that no further work is necessary. This system is 

 perfectly applicable in the South, and all lands that 

 have good drainage, and yet that are level enough to 

 admit of cultivation in both directions without danger 

 of loss from washing, might well be planted in this 

 way. Cowpeas, at the rate of three to six pecks per 

 acre, should, however, be broadcasted among the corn, 

 just in advance of the last cultivation, or a continuous 

 row may be planted in each middle with a one-horse 

 cotton or corn planter. 



On very wet lands like the Louisiana sugar lands 

 it is necessary to plant the corn on elevated beds, as 

 has been described for sugar-cane planting. This 

 does not admit of cross cultivation and the two-row 

 planter cannot be used. It is usual to give rather 

 more space between the rows, usually four and a half 

 to five feet, and to plant with a one-row planter ar- 

 ranged to drop one to two seeds every twelve to 

 eighteen inches. This gives almost as many stalks 

 per acre, and the greater width between the rows 

 allows a better opportunity for the growth of the 

 cowpeas. On such lands peas should be broadcasted, 

 as they will not thrive if planted in the water furrow. 



On most of the Southern uplands the surface is so 



