186 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



Numerous experiments indicate that there is little difference within 

 a reasonable range whether corn is planted in hills or drills. When 

 planted in checks three kernels per hill, 3 feet 8 inches apart, an acre will 

 contain 9720 plants. When planted in drills with the rows 3 feet 8 inches 

 apart and one plant every 14 inches in the rows, an acre will contain 10,180 

 plants. Drilling is somewhat easier and safer on small, irregular fields 

 and on land that is of uneven topography, and is preferable on most lands 

 that are reasonably free of weeds. On badly weed-infested land checking 

 the corn is recommended, because of the better facilities offered for culti- 

 vation and weed extermination. 



On the better lands in the corn belt there has been a tendency in 

 recent years to lessen the distance between hills, and in many districts 

 40 inches is now the common planting distance. 



At the Ohio Experiment Station the average annual yield per acre 

 for a period of ten years when corn was planted at the rate of 1, 2, 3, 4 

 and 5 kernels per hill, with hills 42 inches apart, the largest yield was 

 secured from 4 kernels. The yields were as follows: 1 kernel, 31.7 bushels; 

 2 kernels, 50.8 bushels; 3 kernels, 60.8 bushels; 4 kernels, 64.9 bushels, 

 and 5 kernels, 63 bushels per acre. The yield of stover was largest in 

 case of 5 kernels per hill. The reduced size of ears and the increased 

 labor in husking are such as to indicate 3 kernels per hill as the best rate 

 of planting when grown for grain. 



In regions of abundant rainfall corn is planted on the level, but in 

 regions jDf low rainfall it is frequently planted in furrows by what, is 

 known as listing. This encourages a deeper rooting of the plants, which 

 protects them from severe droughts. 



Depth of Planting. — The depth at which to plant corn will vary 

 with the character and condition of the soil and the nature of the season. 

 In loose, loamy soils the depth may safely be 3 inches, and in the absence 

 of sufficient moisture near the surface 4 inches in depth may be justified. 

 On wet, heavy soils H inches to 2 inches will be better than to plant 

 deeper. No matter at what depth corn is planted, the permanent roots 

 start at a point about one inch beneath the surface of the soil. The depth 

 of rooting is not influenced by the depth of planting, unless the depth is 

 less than one inch. 



Preparation of Seed for Planting. — Before shelling corn for planting 

 it is important to remove all irregular kernels from the butts and tips of 

 ears. Such kernels will not pass through the corn-planter with uniformity. 

 Before being shelled the ears should be assorted into tw r o or three lots, 

 according to the size of kernels, and the shelled corn from each lot kept 

 separate so that the planter plates may be adjusted to each size. The 

 same results may be secured by the use of a seed-corn grader, of which 

 there are several kinds on the market. 



The planter should be carefully adjusted to each lot of seed. A 

 poorly adjusted machine may offset the advantages derived from the 



