corn in North Dakota, but now it is a very popular crop. The ideal 

 location is where the rainfall is not excessive but moderately large, well 

 distributed through the growing months, and where there is plenty of 

 sunshine and warm nights. In some arid sections it is possible to pro- 

 duce a strain that is very drouth-resisting, or, in other words, will ma- 

 ture with a minimum supply of moisture. 



Soil 



An ideal corn soil is a dark loam rich in humus or organic matter. 

 The soils of Iowa, lUinois, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio, and parts of 

 Minnesota and South Dakota, are especially adapted to corn. Clay, 

 gravel and sandy soil can be made to produce good corn by the free use 

 of manures. Soils of many southern states are ideal for corn, and in 

 time, as diversified farming is practiced, will rival the great Mississippi 

 Valley corn belt. Low land should be drained, and, if sour, limed. 

 Alkali land should be thoroughly drained and given a free application 

 of horse manure. If a hard pan exists, the Taylor subsoil plow should 

 be used in every furrow following the turning plow. The same imple- 

 ment is indispensable in dry land farming. 



Water 



Water is necessary, not in minute, but in very substantial quantities. 

 From five hundred to seven hundred tons are required to make an 

 average acre of corn, or about three hundred pounds to make one pound 

 of dry substance. In order that plants may use water according to 

 nature's ways, it must be stored in the ground. This is done by plowing 

 deep, using the subsoil plow, and other tillage implements, as is fully 

 explained in the chapter on "Dry Land Farming." 



Air 



Air in the soil is necessary. This is supplied by tiling, ditching and 

 by tillage. 



Important Steps 



There are four essential steps or operations that should be carefully 

 observed by the corn grower, namely, seed-bed, fertility, seed and culti- 

 vation. 



In a previous article on tillage is discussed the seed-bed, how to store 

 and utilize soil water, and the value of atmospheric oxygen in the soil, 

 and under "Rotation" how to secure nitrogen from the atmosphere, 

 and its value; hence, it is unnecessary to go over those subjects here. 



Fertility 



Fertility comprises all of the elements, compounds and substances 

 which are utilized to make the plant. Carbon and nitrogen are a part 

 of the atmosphere, and they abound in great abundance. Oxygen and 

 hydrogen are in the air, water and soil. Potash, phosphorus, sulphur, 



