34 BULLETIN 320, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



The tillage practices with corn, which is the only intertilled crop, 

 are very uniform. Practically all the corn land is broken in the 

 spring with 3 or 4 horse sulky plows. The common practice of 

 preparation is to roll the land just after plowing and to fellow the 

 roller with a spring-tooth harrow. Then before planting, it is har- 

 rowed again with a spike-tooth harrow. Practically all the corn is 

 planted level and in checks 3f feet apart each way, alternating the 

 hills with two and three grains. 



After the corn is up a few of the farmers use the spike-tcoth har- 

 row for the first working, but practically all the cultivating is done 

 with a 2-horse 6-shovel cultivator, alternating the cultivations with 

 the rows and across the rows with the checks. Usually five cultiva- 

 tions are given. Both the white and yellow dent varieties of corn 

 are grown. 



The most prevalent weeds are foxtail, pigweed, Canada thistle, 

 ragweed, and curled dock. 



SURVEYS IN MAURY COUNTY, TENN. 



The tillage records (Table XVI) for Maury County, Tenn., were 

 taken near Columbia. This section is rolling and in some parts 

 extremely rough and rocky. Considerable quantities of phosphate 

 rock are mined near Columbia, and limestone is plentiful. The 

 Hagerstown loam, the predominating soil in this vicinity, is very 

 productive. 



Most of the farms through the more prosperous sections are rather 

 large, with extensive fields, and are generally operated by the owners 

 with hired labor or tenants. The principal reads have been mac- 

 adamized and the country generally is prosperous. 



Few farms have any set rotations, but a rotation of corn one 

 year, oats one year, wheat one or two years, clover one year, and 

 pasture one year is maintained to some extent. Very little fruit or 

 truck is grown, and the principal sources of income are grain, hogs, 

 and cattle. 



The extensive type of farming found here, together with the cheap 

 labor available, is responsible for the irregular methods of corn culti- 

 vation. Before planting, the land is usually harrowed twice with a 

 disk harrow and once with a spike-tooth harrow. Most of the corn 

 is planted level and in drills. 



After the corn is up it is usually harrowed with a spike-tooth har- 

 row. After this, most of the cultivating is done with a 2-horse 4- 

 shovel cultivator and a 1-horse spike-tooth cultivator. Usually 

 four or five cultivations are given. Crimson clover and rye are fre- 

 quently sown at the last cultivation as a cover crop. Both the yellow 

 and white varieties of dent corn are grown. 



