168 



ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



FIG. 77. A lister for planting corn in semi- 

 arid regions 



yields as much or more than that planted with a check- 

 row planter. The chief advantage seems to be in the re- 

 duction of labor. The land does not need to be plowed 

 for listed corn. This sav- 

 ing in cost is of much im- 

 portance when there is a 

 possibility of a small crop. 

 No matter how deep 

 corn, wheat or oats are 

 planted, they will send out 

 their permanent roots at the depth that seems best for 

 their growth in the particular soil. Fig. 78 shows some 

 rye plants planted at different depths. By varying the 

 length of the first internode, they have all started their 



permanent roots at the 

 same depth, in this case, 

 seven-eighths of an inch 

 below the surface. After 

 the roots have developed 

 from the node, the lower 

 roots die if they have been 

 planted too deeply. The 

 plant can thus "transplant" 

 itself to the proper depth. 



In humid regions, one 

 inch deep has usually given 

 better yields of corn than 

 deeper planting. It is usu- 

 ally necessary to set the 

 planter deeper than one inch, in order to have all the grain 

 covered. A level seed-bed will make it much easier to 



FIG. 78. Readjustment of a rye plant 

 when planted too deep. No matter how 

 deep the seed is planted, the permanent 

 roots are formed at the same depth. Too 

 deep planting weakens the plant as 

 shown on the left. 



