276 DRY LAND FARMING 



frosts of spring and the first killing frosts of autumn, 

 and that will make sufficient growth to admit of being 

 harvested by the aid of the corn harvester without break- 

 ing off a large percentage of the ears, and that will ma- 

 ture nubbins which will add materially to the value of 

 the corn fodder. At the present time, it would be hazard- 

 ous to say which variety will best meet all these con- 

 ditions, but it is correct to say that Northwestern dent 

 is more generally grown than any other variety. 



The time for planting corn will, of course, vary with 

 latitude and altitude. Near to the Canadian boundary 

 it will be, say, May 15th to June 1st. When corn is 

 planted later, it is much liable to be injured by September 

 frosts in the autumn. In the latitude named, corn planted 

 as early as the middle of May is more or less liable 

 to be cut down by frosts, but even so it is better to have 

 growth thus retarded by frost in the spring than to have 

 the crop injured by frost in the autumn. In the north- 

 western states the crop is much less harmed by such a 

 visitation than in the corn belt, owing probably to the 

 much greater inherent hardihood of the varieties grown. 

 These varieties will also be less harmed by planting 

 them in a soil not yet warmed and in weather that is 

 still cold. This may arise first, from the inherent vigor 

 of the seed, and second, from peculiarities of soil and at- 

 mospheric conditions. Those who plant corn, therefore, 

 should not be deterred from planting because of lack of 

 complete propitiousness of the weather when the proper 

 time arrives for planting. Going southward the season 

 for planting advances. Near the Mexican boundary it 

 may be planted in April, the time varying with the alti- 

 tude. 



The method of planting will depend: (1) on the con- 

 dition of the soil as to the presence or the absence of 

 weed growth; (2) on the object for which the corn is 

 chiefly grown, and (3) on the crop that is to follow the 



