98 FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURE. 



times at least during the growing season. On level 

 fields two row cultivators are preferable. In all 

 events the soil should be kept free from weeds at all 

 times, and a loose mellow mulch maintained on the 

 surface. After the corn reaches waist high, or too 

 high for the one or tw y o row cultivators, it pays espe- 

 cially in dry seasons to hitch one horse on to a small 

 harrow or other shallow-toothed instrument and keep 

 the surface soil frequently stirred. 



Harvesting. The method of harvesting depends 

 on the purpose for which the corn is grown. In gen- 

 eral the writer believes that if possible all of the crop 

 on the ordinary farm should be fed to live-stock, after 

 which the manure should be carefully composted and 

 returned to the land. Silos are ideal means of pre- 

 paring the corn plant for food. Shredders and other 

 means of tearing up the stalks and husks are desira- 

 ble implements wherever practicable. Feeding the 

 fodder from the shock is wasteful, but better than not 

 feeding at all. If fed in this manner, hogs ought to 

 follow cattle in order to save as much as possible of 

 the waste. When the ears are husked or jerked from 

 the stalk they should be stored in open cribs, covered 

 well, and protected from mice, rats, weevils and other 

 agents of destruction and waste. 



Varieties. Some of the leading varieties of corn 

 may be classified according to corn regions as fol- 

 lows :* 



* A history of the production of some of these varieties was pub- 

 lished by the writer some years ago in a Bulletin from the Illinois 

 Exp. Station, Urbana, 111., entitled, " Some Standard Seed Corn Va- 

 rieties." 



DENT CORNS: 



Northern Varieties : 



Brewers' Yellow Dent, Minnesota No. 13. 

 Central Varieties : 



Reids' Yellow Dent, Learning, Boone County White, Johns- 

 ton County White, Pride of the North, Silver Mine, 

 Bloody Butcher and Strawberry. 

 Southern Varieties : 



Whelchel White Dent, West's White Dent, Hickory King, 



