144 



PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



smoothing harrow should be used every ten days or soon 

 after each heavy rain. This is to prevent the crusting of the 

 ground and the loss of moisture. Each harrowing of the 

 ground helps to keep the moisture in the soil where it will 

 be ready for the roots of the corn next 

 summer when the dry weather sets in. 



In regions where the soil is heavy the 

 field should be well stirred up again just 

 before planting, using a spring-tooth 

 harrow, disc harrow or a pulverizer set 

 very deep. 



Methods of Planting. Corn is usu- 

 ally planted either by hand-power planters 

 or horse-power planters. The depth to 

 plant varies with the quality and moisture 

 of the soil. In a moist clay loam one 

 inch is deep enough; but in a dry, sandy 

 Bo ^ three or four inches is better. 



EXERCISE. Depth to Plant Corn. 

 Plant corn at several different depths in 

 two kinds of soil, one rather dry and 

 sandy, the other heavy and rather moist 

 (Fig. 77). These should be in two separate bottles or boxes. 

 In each case, note the time required for the young plants 

 to reach the surface. 



Distances for Planting. There are three ways of plant- 

 ing for three different purposes. 



If we plan to cut the crop for green forage, to feed in 

 summer when pastures become dry and short, we should drill 

 the corn in rows so the stalks will stand three or four inches 

 apart all along the rows. This plan will produce an im- 

 mense tonnage of green feed for summer use, but the yield 

 of ears will be light. (See Chap. X.) A southern white 

 variety would be good for this purpose. 



If we want the crop to cut in September for winter fodder or 

 ensilage it is well to have the stalks about a foot apart in the 



