

AFTER-CULTUKE. 



IF the ground intended for corn has been prepared 

 before planting, in the thorough manner indicated in 

 a previous chapter, the labor of after-culture is thereby 

 diminished. The more mellow and porous the con- 

 dition of the soil at the time the grain is put into it, 

 and especially if it has been deeply disintegrated by 

 the subsoil plough, the less deeply and frequently will 

 it require to be disturbed during the growth of the 

 plant. A certain amount of tillage is, of course, in- 

 dispensable to keep down the weeds, and to facilitate 

 the access of air and water to the roots. But the true 

 theory of after-culture is doubtless to keep the earth 

 that surrounds and covers the roots of the plant as 

 open, and loose, and porous as possible, without, at 

 the same time, doing violence to the roots. 



Hence it is obvious, that if the soil is brought 

 completely into this condition at or before the com- 

 mencement of germination, it will not require the 

 same amount of disturbance afterwards, with the plough 

 and other implements, that it must necessarily demand 

 in those cases where the roots, and stems, and minute 



