114 Effective Farming 



Corn planted in drills is placed in rows, each kernel in a sep- 

 arate place. The distance apart of the kernels varies in dif- 

 ferent localities from eight to fifteen inches, depending on the 

 soil conditions. The space between the rows varies, also, 

 from three feet, six inches to five feet. 



Often in the South the corn is planted on ridges, or hills of 

 earth, with deep furrows between the ridges. This is largely 

 because the drainage is poor and during a wet time the water 

 will stand in the furrows and the ridge will be above the stand- 

 ing water. On sandy or loamy soils in the South, corn is some- 

 times planted in the water furrow instead of on the ridge. 

 This plan is not advisable if the soils are at all heavy, but 

 where soils are inclined to be dry, there is an advantage in this 

 method on account of the more moist condition of the soil in 

 the furrow. 



Many of the experiment stations have tested the different 

 methods of planting for their states and have published the 

 results in bulletins. It will be well for pupils and farmers to 

 communicate with the officers of these institutions to find out 

 what has been done along this line. 



Rate of planting. The rate of planting varies considerably, 

 ranging from three thousand to fifteen thousand stalks to the 

 acre. If the hills are four or five feet apart with two stalks 

 to the hill, as they are in some parts of the Gulf States, only 

 about three thousand plants are grown to the acre. If they are 

 three feet, six inches apart each way with three or four stalks 

 to the hill, as often planted in the North, twelve thousand 

 stalks are grown to the acre. 



Implements for planting. A large part of the corn grown 

 in the United States is planted by means of corn-planters. 

 For small areas a hand planter, known as a jabber, is very 

 often used. In the corn-belt two-row planters are the chief 

 kinds. Many of these are arranged to drop the kernels in 

 groups and are known as check-row planters. One is shown 

 in Fig. 39. In the South much of the corn is planted by means 



