CORN LETTERS FROM THIRTY FARMERS 165 
in good shape, which will leave the field in nice clean shape when 
the cultivator is started. The cultivator is started when the corn is 
three or four inches tall, and plowed four inches deep, on an average, 
for the first time. The last time over we spread the gangs, and do not 
plow so deep for fear of pulling up thousands of little roots, which 
would injure the corn. 
We have never used dises or surface cultivators. Six-shovel plows 
are all we use; however, we think the surface plows and dises are good, 
My corn is plowed three times at least, and five times would be 
better. The corn is layed by when about two and one-half to four 
feet tall. Yours truly, Cc. C. 8. 
Prop. of Fair View Farm, Minier, Illinois. 
Piper City, Illinois, April 11, 1913. 
W. T. Ainsworth & Sons, Mason City, Illinois, 
Gentlemen:—In answer to your letter I will say that my soil is a 
dark sandy loam and very level. My rotation is corn, oats and clover. 
I try to have an equal amount in corn and oats. : 
I plow my ground in the fall about seven inches deep and let it 
stand until spring. Before planting I usually dise twice and drag. 
I plant deep then drag again. I also run the drag over the field before 
the corn comes up. 
If I brake stalk ground I dise before and after plowing. 
The first cultivation I give the corn is with a six-shovel plow. This 
cultivation is about four inches deep. I lay the corn by with a surface 
cultivator and plow deep enough to have considerable loose dirt run 
over the blades. 
Hoping this will be satisfactory, I remain, 
Yours truly, 
JAMES T. SULLIVAN. 
‘Delavan, Illinois, April 15th, 1913. 
Messrs. W. T. Ainsworth & Sons, Mason City, Illinois. 
Gentlemen:—Our land lies in Logan and Tazewell counties, Illinois, 
and ranges from a heavy black loam to a rather light sandy loam. 
On all the farms I insist, wherever possible, that the corn stalks shall 
be cut and plowed under, not for immediate results, but for what 
I am sure will be permanent benefits. 
