Indian Corn, or Maize 113 



freezing weather of winter, and the work is done at a time when 

 other work on the farm is not pressing. A disadvantage is 

 that much soluble plant-food is likely to be lost during the win- 

 ter by percolation to depths below the reach of roots. This 

 applies especially when the ground does not remain frozen 

 during the winter. Another disadvantage is that the soil 

 is likely to wash badly during the winter. 



If plowing is done in the spring, it should be early in order to 

 give time for the sod and manure to decay. The soil bacteria 

 and the aeration of the soil are more active in plowed than in 

 unplowed land; consequently the early plowing, through the 

 increased action of these agencies, adds to the supply of avail- 

 able plant-food for the corn crop. Early spring plowing, if 

 followed by harrowing to form a mulch on the soil, will conserve 

 moisture. This is an especial advantage in a dry spring. 



Following the plowing, the land must be made into a fine, 

 easily worked seed-bed. Clods left in the field will be trouble- 

 some during the whole growing season, and should be broken 

 up before the seed is planted. Corn planted on poorly pre- 

 pared land has little chance to make a good crop. 



55. Planting the seed. Corn can be planted as soon as 

 danger of frost is over and the ground has become sufficiently 

 warm to insure germination. The time, of course, will vary 

 considerably in different localities. 



Depth of planting. The depth that corn is to be planted 

 should be governed largely by the physical condition of the 

 soil. In most soils of good tilth, the planting should be shallow, 

 about two inches. In a dry soil that is somewhat lumpy, deeper 

 planting, from three to five inches, is likely to give better results. 



Methods of planting. The two general methods of planting 

 corn are in hills and in drills. When planted in hills, from three 

 to five kernels are placed in groups from three to four feet apart 

 each way. The number of kernels to the hill and the distance 

 apart varies with the condition of the soil. In a fertile soil 

 the planting can be thicker than in poor soil. 



