106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



only be brought about by the pbmting in the check-row sys- 

 tem. Two row horse planters can now be purchased which 

 will plant corn in check rows, providing the land is fairly 

 level. On much of our hill lands it will be found that these 

 check-row planters are not a complete success. We have one 

 field at the Connecticut Agricultural College planted this 

 year by one of these machines. C^orn is rowed in one direc- 

 tion, but it would require the skill of an acrobat to cultivate 

 it in the other direction. On another field, which is fairly 

 level, the planter has done most excellent work, the corn being 

 well rowed in two directions. Many farmers still hold to the 

 practice of planting with a hand planter. In this case it is 

 possible to check row the corn with absolute uniformity. With 

 the land marked off in advance, two men with hand planters 

 will have no difficulty in planting from 8 to 10 acres per day. 

 In growing the dent corn for the silo these rows may be -Sl/o 

 feet apart in one direction and 3 feet apart in the other direc- 

 tion. In growing the smaller types of flint corn the rows 

 may be 3 feet apart both ways, and abundance of room will 

 be furnished for each hill of corn. 



Directly after the corn is planted cultivation should begin. 

 This cultivation should not be delayed until the corn is up, 

 but may oftentimes be given to advantage on the same day 

 on which the corn is planted. Especially is this true where 

 the corn is likely to be dug up by crows. The use of a smooth- 

 ing harrow or weeder directly after planting has in many 

 cases served to protect the seed from damage by the crows. 

 It is even more effective than treating the corn with tar or 

 other substances. After the corn is up, the first cultivation 

 should be given with an implement with narrow teeth, which 

 may be run close to the rows of corn, which are set fairly 

 deep ; this will not roll the earth and bury the hills of corn. 

 The first cultivation should be as deep as any cultivation you 

 expect to give during the season, for if any of the surface 

 roots are to be pruned, that pruning should be done at the 

 first cultivation, for at that time the plant has relatively a 

 much larger growth of root system compared with top than it 

 will have again during the season. During the growing sea- 



