186 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



" Lay off the land in rows six feet apart, and bed on these furrows 

 with turn-plow until only a five-inch balk is left between these 

 beds. When ready to plant, break out this balk with six-inch 

 shovel or scooter, and follow deep in furrow with narrow plow. 

 Ridge on this furrow with one round of same narrow plow. 

 Plant in this ridge twice as thick as corn is to be left, one grain in 

 a hill, and cover shallow. Plant as early as your seasons and the 

 nature of the land will permit. 



"When your corn first needs work, run on both sides with har- 

 row or small plow (Fig. 90) ; when it is about eight inches high, give 



second working by running 

 around it on both sides, if 



on sandy land, with ten- 

 FIG. 90. THE WILLIAMSON METHOD inch g Qr gw get Qn 



OF CORN CULTURE. . , , . , .. , , 



point, and if on stiff land 



Showing condition of the ground after uge ghovel Thin nQW 

 the first cultivation. (After sketch by ,, T ,, 



Mclver Williamson.) Leave these Arrows 



open and do not work corn 



again until it is so stunted as to prevent its ever growing larger 

 than is necessary to make what corn the land is able to produce. 

 On poor or cold land from ten to twelve days may be enough, 

 while rich soil may take twice as long. When you think that it 

 has stood long enough apply one half of mixed fertilizer in the 

 open furrows next to corn, of every other middle, and cover by 

 breaking out this middle with turn-plow. And side the corn at 

 once in this middle with fifteen-inch scrape, pushing dirt around 

 it, and covering any grass that turn-plow has left. Corn should 

 now be about knee high. 



"Within a week give other middle same treatment, then go 

 back to first middle as soon as possible, and sow half of nitrate of 

 soda in scrape furrows next corn, and cover as fast as sown with 

 one round of turn-plow, shallow. Then sow peas broadcast 

 in this middle at rate of a bushel per acre, unless very scarce, 

 when they may be dropped, and cover by breaking out middle 

 shallow. 



"A few days later treat the other middle same way, which 

 lays by corn on slight bed with dirt around the feed roots, before 



