58 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



eral is necessary in order to: (1) Increase the water-absorbing 

 capacity of the soil; (2) prevent evaporation; (3) warm up 

 the soil; (4) increase circulation of air in the soil; (5) increase 

 the available plant food elements. Plowing may be done either 

 in the fall or in the spring largely according to conditions on 

 the farm. In general, however, it is much better to plow sods 

 or land receiving a heavy application of manure in the fall in 

 order that the organic matter may become partially decayed. 

 On the other hand, very heavy soils run together so badly dur- 

 ing the winter that spring plowing is almost necessary. In case 

 land is plowed in the spring it should be plowed as early as 

 possible in order to get the maximum benefits. 



Deep plowing is usually advisable for corn. Some exceptions 

 to this general rule occur: (1) If land has been jDlowed shallow 

 for a series of years it is not advisable to plow deep the first 

 year, but the dejith of plowing should be gradually increased 

 each year until a depth of eight or nine inches is reached; (2) if 

 the land is to be plowed late in the spring, it should not be 

 plowed so deep that the seed bed cannot be firmed. Ver}^ deep 

 plowing (fifteen to twenty inches) has not proved generally 

 beneficial. 



The objects of the preparation of the seed bed immediately 

 before planting are (1) to pulverize the surface soil; (2) to 

 compact the seed bed if spring plowed (fall jolowed land becom- 

 ing well compacted due to rains and successive freezes and 

 thaws), and (3) to kill all weeds that have started development. 

 It is sometimes advisable to disk fall plowed land early in the 

 season and again at time of planting in order to destroy more 

 weeds. 



Planting. — Corn is planted one and one-half to two and one- 

 half inches deep according to type of soil. It may be planted 

 (1) on the surface, (2) in shallow furrows made either with 

 a single shovel plow or with furrow opener attachments to the 

 corn planter, or (3) in lister furrows. The corn may be planted 

 either by hand, with a drill, or with a two-row planter. Most 

 of the corn planted on the surface or in light furrows is chocked, 

 that is, rowed both ways, while the listed corn is usually drilled. 

 There is no particular advantage in yield of checked over drilled 

 corn as long as all other conditions are similar. The check 

 method, however, permits of plowing both ways which makes 

 cultivation much easier. On the other hand, if the corn is to 

 be cut with a corn binder or used for silage the drilled method 

 has the advantage. 



