TRACTION FARMING IN THE CORN BELT 269 



undisputed province of the farm horse, is spread out over many 

 weeks of leisurely nibbling along the corn rows. We have 

 seen the wonderful opportunity for multiplying the corn yield 

 by deeper plowing, though plowing is already the greatest 

 problem of the farmer. With horses, plowing must be begun 

 early and finished late. But the work of preparation requires 

 haste. Uniform plowing, uniform preparation, and uniform 

 date of planting result in an even crop all over the field, and 

 add quality to the product. In a humid climate the ground 

 should be left until in the proper condition and then made 

 ready with all possible haste. In a dry climate the thorough- 

 ness of preparation is even more important. A Kansas farmer, 

 formerly at the head of a Government experiment station in 

 the Panhandle of Texas, says that only the corn crop that has 

 a good start can mature nicely after the idle period which is 

 inevitable during the summer drought. A crop that goes into 

 the resting period in a backward state will not survive and 

 bring forth a respectable yield. Deep plowing and a perfect 

 seedbed are fundamental aids to a good start. 



The following authentic record of a field of corn in Ohio 

 up to the point of harvest shows the distribution of labor in, 

 terms of one horse's time: 



HORSE HOURS PER CENT. 



Plowing 13.20 31.20 



Disking 3.86 9.10 



Harrowing 4.14 9.77 



Rolling 1.15 2.70 



Dragging 5.38 12.70 



Planting 1.84 4.35 



Cultivating 12.79 30.18 



42.36 100.00 



Except for cultivating, plowing takes by far the greatest num- 

 ber of hours and is the most severe work. Had this field been 

 plowed eight inches deep instead of six, the percentage of 

 time and power required would have been much increased. 



