'0 ' A O ft I C \J L T tr R K . 57 



of corn, after the planting has been properly 

 executed, are : first, keep the ground t-lear of every- 

 thing which has the sa.mc period of growth with the 

 crop ; second, stir the soil thoroughly, an-d to as great 

 depth as possible, during the early-stages of the growth 

 of the crop. In clay soils, where a strong grass sod 

 lias been turned under, a good plan is to run a 

 Coulter on each side of the row as soon as the corn 

 has conic up ; the middle spaces may be stirred with 

 a shovel- plow or a cultivator-. After this one deep 

 plowing will generally be sufficient. 



Many farmers, especially in the Southern States, 

 prefer the plan of running a small mold- board or 

 turning plow, as near the rows as possible, at 

 the first working, in such a way as to throw the 

 earth off from the corn, following with the hoes 

 to thin the corn and cover any roots too much 

 exposed. This is followed by a second use of the 

 same plow run in an opposite direction, so as to 

 throw the earth back again toward the row. This 

 method has some advantages, and is adopted in the 

 cultivation of other crops. It gives free access of air 

 to the soil about the roots of plants, and gives the 

 portion of soil turned twice with the plow a complete 

 stirring; it destroys completely the first weeds and 

 grass which spring up near the rows. As the corn 

 approaches the period of tasseling, the roots spread 

 with great rapidity, after which deep plowing w r ill 

 result in great injury to the crop. All work after the 

 corn is large enough to bunch or tassel should be done 

 , with the cultivator or hoe. The land may thus be 

 kept clean, and the roots left to spread themselves 

 out on all sides between rows. 

 3* 



