No. 4.] CORN GROWING. 107 



son the corn should be given cultivation at frequent intervals, 

 the number of cultivations being determined somewhat by the 

 season and soil conditions. During a dry season the surface 

 should at all times be kept loose, open and porous ; and dur- 

 ing a wet season, as soon as possible after the rain the surface 

 should be stirred to a depth of from two to three inches, and 

 this surface layer made as dry as it is possible, for the drier 

 we can keep the surface of the soil on any cultivated field the 

 more completely do we hold the moisture beneath the surface, 

 whore it is needed by the growing plants. 



The practice of hilling corn is one which is advisable only 

 on lands which are naturally too wet for the growth of corn, 

 i»r in a wet season, when it is desired to establish surface 

 drains in which the surplus of rainfall may be carried quickly 

 from the field. During recent- years we have not been seri- 

 ously troubled with a surplus of rainfall, and consequently 

 those fields which have been given level tillage through the 

 entire season have given best results. Corn is a valuable 

 crop for New England because it gives a splendid opportunity 

 for the growth of cover crops, which may be used to advan- 

 tage for green manuring purposes. This cover crop can be 

 sown to advantage at the last cultivation of the corn, but it is 

 often better to wait until the corn is harvested, especially 

 where this corn is to be put into the silo ; then harrow the field 

 over thoroughly before sowing the seed for the cover crop. 

 Of all cover crops which have been tested in New England, 

 none have proved of greater value than rye, or a mixture of 

 rye and winter vetch, or rye and clover. If the seed can 

 be put into the soil during the month of September a good 

 growth will be n^ade in the fall, and it will serve to prevent 

 erosion, to hold the soluble plant food and prevent waste in 

 the drainage waters. 



The most economical way of storing the corn crop after it 

 is raised is to put it into a silo, and of all the types of silos 

 so far recommended the round, wooden stave silo is, for the 

 general farm, the best type. Concrete, l)rick and stone silos 

 have all been tried and all have their advocates. It is claimed 

 for them that, once constructed, they are a ]iermanent im- 



