HOME PROJECTS 327 



HOME PROJECT 4 



CORN GROWING 



Selecting the ground. The best time to choose the plot 

 of ground upon which the corn project is to be carried out 

 is in the fall. Select not less thali one acre of good, deep, 

 well-drained, fertile loam soil, preferably in clover sod. 



Enriching the soil for permanent fertility. If the clover 

 crop of the previous summer has not been cut and left lying 

 on the ground to be plowed under, apply broadcast, prefer- 

 ably in the fall or winter, a dressing of barnyard manure at 

 the rate of six or eight tons to the acre. 



Most soils are deficient in phosphorus. Apply in the fall 

 or winter about two tons per acre of fine-ground rock phos- 

 phate. This should always be applied to soil containing an 

 abundance of active organic matter such as manures or 

 clovers, and plowed down with the organic matter. 



Lime is useful in aiding decomposition of organic matter 

 and in keeping the soil sweet. Most soils should be limed 

 once in four or five years, at the rate of two or three tons 

 per acre of ground limestone. The limestone may be put 

 on the ground in the spring or fall after it is broken up 

 for corn. 



Preparing the seed-bed. Corn ground, in general, should 

 be plowed deep and be well -pulverized. Seeds will not ger- 

 minate evenly if the seed-bed is lumpy and rough. It is ad- 

 visable to break corn ground in the fall, providing it is not 

 a heavy clay soil and there is no danger of the soil washing 

 away during the winter. Never plow a clay soil when it is 



