CORN 1 5 I 



Corn should be cultivated frequently enough to keep the land 

 free from weeds and to keep the surface soil loose. Under 

 most conditions three or four such cultivations are sufficient, 

 though occasionally as many as seven can be profitably given. 

 A poor condition of the seed bed, the growth of weeds, and 

 either frequent heavy rains or excessively dry weather will 

 increase the number of cultivations required to grow a crop. 



ground. 



FIG. 71. Deep tillage destroys corn roots 



At the first cultivation the ground may be stirred rather 

 deeply and close to the plants without injury to the root system, 

 but later cultivations should be shallow, and the shovels should 

 be kept farther from the plants. The roots grow within a few 

 inches of the surface and under most conditions extend from 

 row to row (Fig. 71). Deep cultivation injures many of the 

 feeding-roots and decreases the yield. Listed corn can be culti- 

 vated deeper without injury to the roots than can surface-planted 

 corn. Experiments show that ridging the corn rather than leav- 

 ing the ground almost level cuts off a larger number of roots, 

 does not conserve moisture so well, and thus reduces the yield. 



