ARID AGRICULTURE. 



155 



We recommend deep plowing for dry farm- 

 ing, and more shallow plowing where irrigation 

 is done. Plowing should be as long before plant- 

 ing as possible in order to let the soil become 

 packed. The usual cultivation to conserve 

 moisture and kill weeds is important. There 

 are two general methods of planting. Corn may 

 be drilled in rows three or three and one-half 

 feet apart, dropping the seed about a foot apart 

 in the row. Or, it may be drilled more thickly 

 for the production of fine stemmed fodder. 

 When planted in this manner, usually from ten 

 pounds to twenty pounds of seed per acre are 

 sown. For dry farming the recommendation is 

 to use a lister, planting in hills with two pounds 

 to five pounds of seed per acre. Cultivation 

 should begin almost s soon as the corn is 

 planted. It may be frequently harrowed until 

 the plants are six or eight inches high. Then it 

 should be cultivated with a weeder until too high 

 for this machine, after w^hich cultivation can be 

 done with the ordinary corn cultivators, unless 

 there is sufficient moisture so the crop can be 

 laid by. 



Corn fodder has the highest food value when 

 it is nearly mature. It is best to leave it until 

 the ears are just past the glazing stage. There 

 is considerable loss in the West of food value 

 when corn matures. It should be put in as large 

 shocks as possible to save this loss. It does not 



