18 BROOM-CORN CULTURE 
ous task, and frequently takes more time than would 
be required to plant the field a second time in event 
of a partial failure of the seed of the first planting. 
The best practice is to plant the exact quantity of 
good seed; then, if conditions are such that a good 
stand is not secured, the entire field can be culti- 
vated, harrowed and planted again. On heavy clay 
soils the seed should be covered to a depth of one- 
half inch, but on light sandy loams one inch of soil 
over the seed will do no harm. 
Care should be taken to have a sufficient amount 
of moisture in the surface soil at planting time to 
insure prompt germination. It is sometimes advis- 
able to roll the ground after planting to bring the 
soil in close contact with the seed and to induce the 
movement of the moisture from the subsoil up into 
the seedbed. 
Cultivation—Cultivation must be commenced 
early and repeated frequently, to prevent weeds 
from getting the start of the slow-growing young 
plants. As hoeing and hand weeding are too ex- 
pensive, large weeders, harrows, and very narrow- 
shoveled cultivators, with fenders to keep the soil 
off the plants, are employed until the plants attain 
a height of about a foot, after which they grow rap- 
idly and will thrive with the same cultivation as does 
corn. Many find it advisable to harrow lengthwise 
with the rows with a sharp-toothed harrow just as 
the plants are coming up. With a wide harrow and 
plenty of horse-power this operation is quickly 
accomplished. 
The plants will probably be large enough to per- 
