DATE AND METHOD OF PLANTING IQ 



mit of the use of a regular corn cultivator in 15 to 

 20 days after planting if favorable weather condi- 

 tions prevail. 



Level culture is most satisfactory from the be- 

 ginning till the crop is laid by, and will leave the 

 field in good condition for harvesting. Cultivations 

 should be frequent enough to keep the soil from 

 becoming crusted and hard, for in this condition the 

 moisture passes off most quickly, leaving the soil 

 dry and the soluble salts or plant food at the sur- 

 face and entirely out of reach of the roots of the 

 plants. An inch or two of finely divided soil or dust 

 serves as a thick blanket in conserving the moisture 

 and keeping the dissolved plant food accessible to 

 the roots. Late in the season the soil may be stirred 

 with a one-horse cultivator by going once in a row 

 with this implement. For this work it should be 

 equipped with a number of small shovels. This 

 practice is not common in the broom-corn sections, 

 but since it gives good results in the cultivation of 

 corn, it should be equally effective in broom-corn 

 culture. 



