222 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



feet eight inches apart, using a single shovel-plow for 

 the purpose and plant the com in the small ridge left 

 on the side of the furrow, using an ordinary hand 

 corn-planter for small tradls. Always plant on the 

 same side of the furrow in the cross of the mark and 

 ridge. Never plant com in drills if it is to be culti- 

 vated. It is a waste of time and labor, as the hoe will 

 surely have to be used in order to keep the weeds 

 down. On the other hand, if the corn is check-rowed 

 nothing but a two-horse cultivator will be needed to 

 keep the field perfedlly clean. Before the corn comes 

 up, harrow thoroughly, twice being usually sufficient. 

 This is better than cultivating, and leaves the ground 

 smooth and in excellent condition. 



In planting large areas the two-horse planter may 

 be used, and should it be necessary to irrigate the 

 crop up, a small furrow may be made at one side 

 of the row for that purpose. Corn ground should 

 not be allowed to become so dry as to cause the 

 leaves to curl, as some farmers persist in doing and 

 advise others to do. Keep the ground moist. The 

 matter of thorough cultivation should not be over- 

 looked, as is too often the case. As a rule corn should 

 be cultivated four times during the season. It should 

 be borne in mind the more thorough the cultivation 

 the more satisfactory will be the result. Care should 

 be taken not to disturb the roots during the last culti- 

 vation or after the spur roots begin to form. It has 

 been said that a handful of salt placed around the 

 hills at the time of tasseling will prevent the ravages 

 of the boll worm in the end of the ears. 



Egyptian Corn. — Plow the ground into ridges 



