116 



Effective Farming 



be changed or sometimes the difficulty can be overcome by fil- 

 ing the holes in the plates to make them larger. 



56. Cultivating the fields. Corn requires frequent and 

 thorough cultivation, especially in the early stages of growth. 

 The cultivating not only kills the weeds, but it aerates the soil 

 and conserves the moisture, which corn requires in abundance 

 for its best development. A weeder or a spike-tooth harrow 

 with the teeth turned back should be used even before the 



FIG. 40. A corn-cultivator equipped with small shovels. 



plants are above the ground. Many weeds will thus be killed 

 and a mulch formed. If the work is done during the middle 

 of a hot, sunshiny day, these implements can be used until 

 the plants are six or eight inches high. In the heat of the day 

 the plants are not easily broken. After the plants are large 

 a corn-cultivator equipped with small shovels should be used 

 (Figs. 40 and 204). Shallow cultivation (about two inches) 

 is best for corn, as deep cultivation cuts off too many roots. 

 In dry seasons the cultivation should be kept up until well into 

 the summer to conserve all the soil-moisture possible. When 



