CHAPTER VIII 

 CORN SOILS, ROTATIONS, AND FERTILIZERS 



WHILE corn will grow on an extremely wide range of 

 soils, yet good yields can be expected only on rich or highly 

 manured land. The corn plant, with its abundant foli- 

 age, actively engaged in transpiring moisture, needs large 

 supplies of water. Therefore, the best soil for corn is one 

 which can furnish a large and regular supply of water during 

 periods of dry weather. Such a soil is usually a deep, 

 rather rich loam, well supplied with vegetable matter. As 

 a rule, bottom lands afford larger yields of corn than up- 

 lands. 



136. Bottom lands and uplands for maize. Bottom 

 lands on which corn makes its best yields should be well 

 drained, since the corn roots need a constant supply of 

 oxygen from the air, and air cannot penetrate saturated 

 soil. Neither can the roots range to sufficient depth when 

 the line of saturation is near the surface. The more poorly 

 the land is drained, the later must the corn be planted and 

 the greater the risk of failure, should the subsequent season 

 be unfavorable. Uplands can be fitted for a maximum 

 development of corn by gradually increasing the depth of 

 plowing and by constantly adding vegetable matter, by 

 judicious rotation of crops, or by the application of barn- 

 yard manure. 



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