THE CULTIVATION OF CORN 77 



grow, even if a portion of the plants is destroyed by this 

 treatment. 



86. Blind Cultivation. In many instances, blind culti- 

 vation, that is, cultivating the corn before it is up by 

 following the rows, as indicated by the planter marks, 

 is a desirable practice. By cultivating as soon as it is evident 

 that the soil should be stirred, even throwing a little soil on 

 top of the row, its condition may be greatly improved and 

 many small weeds may be destroyed without danger of 

 injuring the small corn plants. If this practice is followed, 

 the necessity of harrowing can often be obviated. 



87. Use of the Weeder. The weeder is often used during 

 the early stages of cultivation with good results. The weeder 

 is such a light implement that unless the soil is in fairly good 

 condition it cannot do much work; but if the soil has been 

 harrowed or, preferably, blind-cultivated, going over it with 

 a weeder will destroy many small weeds and leave the soil 

 soft and mellow on top of the hills, so that the plants can 

 easily push their way out. 



88. Types of Cultivators. There is room for a good deal 

 of personal preference in the selection of tools for the culti- 

 vation of corn. There are, however, a few simple principles 

 that are worthy of consideration in the selection of these 

 implements. A cultivator is used to loosen the soil, some- 

 times when it is rather heavy and hard, and also to tear out 

 rather large weeds, which should not be in a corn field, but 

 which, nevertheless, are often found there. It is evident, 

 then, that a cultivator, to be useful for these purposes, must 

 have considerable strength and must be capable of stirring 

 considerable soil to a reasonable depth. 



The types of sulky cultivators in more or less common 

 use include those with two shovels on each side, the shovels 

 necessarily being large to cover the ground; those with three 



