38 FARM CROPS 



by experiments which have been recently completed 

 at the Kansas station. These experiments relate 

 to different methods of tillage, which may be prac- 

 ticed during the winter or early spring, in prepar- 

 ing the seed bed and include deep and shallow plow- 

 ing, double disking and listing, namely, plowing land 

 into ridges with a double moldboard plow or lister. 

 In these experiments corn has usually been 

 planted in listed furrows, except that the surface 

 and lister methods of planting have been compared 

 each year on the plowed plats. While the relative 

 yields vary somewhat from year to year, it is very 

 clear that the early plowing and early listing have 

 given increased yields of corn, ranging from 6 to 

 12 bushels an acre. 



CULTIVATION OF CORN, COTTON AND 

 POTATOES 



It is a safe rule to follow, and usually pays well, 

 to prepare a good seed bed and to give the land 

 thorough cultivation previous to planting. After 

 planting, whether listed or surface planted, it is a 

 good plan to harrow these crops before they come 

 up, weather conditions permitting, and the harrowing 

 may be continued with good results until the crops 

 are 2 or 3 inches high. Surface-planted intertillage 

 crops may usually be harrowed safely before they 

 are up, or just as they come through the ground, 

 but harrowing at this time, when the plants are 

 very small, is apt to cover or destroy a part of 

 them. With cotton this does not matter. Do not 

 harrow with your eyes shut ; keep your eyes open, 

 and, if in your judgment the crop is being injured 

 more than it is being benefited, do not harrow. The 



