162 CULTURE OF THE CEREALS. 



necessary, but except in particular cases this seems to be 

 altogether unnecessary. It may sometimes be useful, 

 however, by keeping off these various depredators. In 

 such cases soak the seed in tar water twelve hours, then 

 coat it with ground plaster, or ashes or lime. 



531. Larger crops can generally be obtained by drill 

 planting instead of planting in hills, but the labor of hoe 

 ing and cultivating is greater, and except for the smallest 

 varieties, drill planting is not common. 



532. Indian, corn, whether planted by hand or with a 

 corn planter, should generally be covered about an inch 

 and a half deep to insure sufficient moisture, and give 

 the plant a firm hold on the soil. But on a moist or 

 heavy soil an inch is enough. 



533. The first hoeing or dressing may be given when 

 the plants are about two inches high. At this time a light 

 plough may be used, running as near one of the rows as 

 it can without injuring the plants, and then returning 

 between the same rows and running near the other. A 

 back furrow will thus be left half way between the rows 

 which should not at this time be disturbed by the hoe. 

 The plough will do no injury while the plants are still so 

 small and before the fibrous roots have extended. 



534. In subsequent dress 

 ings, the horse-hoe, (Fig. 

 25,) should be used. The 

 plough would break and in 

 jure the roots, and should 

 Firr 25 never be introduced between 



the rows after the first hoe- 



in#. The horse-hoe will stir the ground as deeply as it is 

 safe to go. In the second dressing, the cultivator, or what 

 is far better, the horse-hoe, will partially level the back 



