CORN 145 



rows. This will result in the greatest total yield of nutrients 

 in the stalks and ears. A good variety for this purpose would 

 be one which would ripen in the region where planted. 



The third plan is to have the stalks stand three in a hill 

 and hills three feet apart in the row, with rows four feet apart 

 or a little less. This is the plan followed in the great corn 

 region of the middle West. Usually the hills are in rows both 

 ways for greater ease of cultivation. The so-called hill plan 

 or check-row plan gives the greatest yields of ear corn. These 

 are not real hills, as corn should not be hilled up. There are 

 good local varieties in different sections. These usually prove 

 better for the locality than any other from a distance. 



Planting Dates. It is not entirely safe to go by the 

 calendar in deciding when to plant corn. If the soil is pre- 

 pared early and thoroughly so that the warm air can enter it, 

 the time of planting may be hastened. The crop should not 

 be planted until after the last killing frost is past. 



The Year Book of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture gives the following dates for three regions : 



Gulf States, March 15 to May 10, and April 5 most general. 



Central States, Virginia to Kansas, April 15 to May 25, 

 and May 1 most general. 



Northern States, New York to Minnesota, May 10 to 

 June 1, and May 20 most general. 



Tillage. As soon as the seed is planted we can use the 

 smoothing harrow and continue to use it after each heavy 

 rain as soon as the soil loses its sticky character. Have no 

 fear of injuring the little corn plants except in the early morn- 

 ing when the plants are too full of moisture, or in very stony 

 fields. If this system of harrowing the corn after it is up is 

 followed, there will be very few weeds to be seen hi the field. 

 It is much faster work to harrow the field, taking several rows 

 at a time, than it is to use the cultivator, one row at a time. 



When the corn is high enough so the cross-bars of the 

 harrow tend to break off the plants, use a weeder or a fine- 

 toothed cultivator a number of times to keep a fine soil- 



