CORX, AVIIEAT, OATS, BARLEY, RYE 



57 



under for the corn. Of the three mineral elements (nitrogen, 

 phosjDhorus and potash) often deficient in the soil, phosphorus 

 is most often lacking. Phosphorus may be applied at times 

 at the rate of one hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds 

 per acre directly to the corn land with a good profit, but nitrogen 

 and potash have not usually given a profit. Although producing 

 considerable gains in yield, the gains have been only sufficient 

 in most cases to i^ay for the added cost. The value of manure 

 and phosphate to corn in a corn-wheat-clover rotation can be 

 shown l)y the following results secured at the Ohio Experiment 

 Station: 



Limes. — The value of lime in connection with certain legumes 

 has become well established, but its value when used mtli corn 

 has received less attention, and justly so, because (1) the suc- 

 cess of the crop by no means depends on an application of lime, 

 and (2) such large percentage gains have not been secured as 

 with other crops. However, lime has generally been found to 

 increase yield of corn, whether used alone or in connection with 

 manure and fertilizers, sufficient to more than pay for the appli- 

 cation and in some cases the cost per bushel gain has been as 

 low as ten cents. AVhen this is considered, together A^dth the 

 fact that lime continues to have a beneficial effect on soils for 

 several years, it is certainly worth ajiplying, especially on liea\y 

 soils and soils deficient in lime. 



CULTURAL METHODS 



Preparation of the seed bed. — The object of seed bed prepar- 

 ation in any case is to produce the most favorable conditions 

 for plant growth. In the case of corn, the seed bed should be 

 well plowed, pulverized and freed from weeds. The freeing 

 of land of w^eeds before planting is very essential because it 

 cannot only be done more cheaply but also much better before 

 the corn is planted than at any later date. Plowing in gen- 



