INDIAN CORN. 159 



must vary according to the crops for which the piece has 

 been used and the state it is left in. If the field that is 

 to be planted with corn has been in grass dfor some years, 

 it should be well ploughed the autumn before the planting, 

 and then left till spring, when it will be partially mellowed 

 and may be cross ploughed, manured, harrowed and 

 planted. 



518. But stiff, undrained soils, and lands lying on the 

 slopes of hills liable to be washed down by the rains, 

 should, if possible, be broken up in the spring insteacl 

 of the fall, as the sward will not rot, and if turned up in. 

 cross ploughing in spring, will be troublesome during tjie 

 cultivation, of the crop. 



519. The manures used with this crop must be varied 

 according to the character of the soil. On light, well 

 worked and mellowed land, old and well decomposed barn 

 yard manure or compost is best, but if the soil is stiffer 

 and somewhat clayey the coarser barnyard manures may 

 be used to advantage, as they improve the texture of the 

 soil and produce heat by fermentation. 



520. It is generally thought best to plough in the coarse 

 manures in the fall, as they thus become decomposed and 

 prepare the ground for spring planting. They may be 

 turned under on the sod or 011 a grain stubble. But if the 

 ground is level they may be spread upon the furrow, after 

 fall ploughing, and left over winter to be turned under in 

 cross ploughing in spring. 



521. In cross ploughing, the sod turned under the 

 autumn before should not be disturbed. If the manure 

 is ploughed under in the fall, some finer compost should 

 also be used in spring -to be spread on the furrows after 

 cross ploughing, and harrowed or cultivated in. If the 

 soil be stiff and cold, such as is ill adapted to Indian corn, 



