280 DRY LAND FARMING 



should heavy rain fall soon after the corn is planted, 

 and this does occur occasionally; it may wash out some 

 of the seed and bury more of it. There is the further 

 objection that evaporation for a time at least will take 

 place from a larger surface than would occur in level 

 planting. If the land has been carefully plowed the 

 previous autumn, the advantage to be gained from list- 

 ing is at least problematical. 



Care of the crop. In nearly all instances the plan is 

 to be commended which harrows corn in dry areas once 

 or twice before it is up. If but one harrowing is given, 

 it ought to be given usually just when the points of the 

 corn plants are ready to appear. If two harrowings are 

 given, the first should occur about a week after planting 

 the corn under normal conditions of weather. In both 

 instances the teeth of the harrow should be given a far 

 enough backward slant so as not to injure the sprouted 

 corn. Myriads of weeds just starting into life will thus 

 be destroyed. Subsequent to the appearance of the 

 corn plants, one or two harrowings will be helpful, but 

 when giving them care should be taken not to bury the 

 corn plants, which is much liable to occur if the crop is 

 harrowed when one to two inches high. In many in- 

 stances the weeder judiciously used will do the work 

 better than the harrow. Neither the harrow nor the 

 weeder should be used on ground unduly moist, or when 

 the corn plants are wet with dew or rain. The grower is 

 in the best position to determine when and to what ex- 

 tent harrowing should be done. 



The cultivator should follow close upon ceasing to 

 use the harrow. A cultivator that will take in two or 

 three rows should be used where large areas are to be 

 cultivated. The objects sought from cultivating are: 

 first, to destroy weeds, and, second, to prevent the escape 

 of soil moisture. Ordinarily such cultivation should be 

 level and shallow lest the corn roots should be broken 



