146 



CORN 



Deep plowing. For a deep, rich soil, deep plowing is very gen- 

 erally considered best if done in the fall. Fred McCulloch, of Hart- 

 wick, Iowa, reports that fewer weeds appeared in the corn field 

 which was plowed in the spring tf\-c inches deep than in the one 

 plowed three inches in depth. For thin clay soils, sub-soiling is bet- 

 ter than very deep plowing, because it does not turn the compact clay 

 to the surface, yet at the same time it loosens the soil to a consider- 



DI.A.GRAM SHOWING THE SURFACE SOIL STIRRED 

 SLIGHTLY AND A MULCH EST.ABLISHED. 



This is brought about by discing corn stall; ground early 

 in the spring. The moisture rising from below is not 

 allowed to escape, but is checked in its upward course, 

 just below this mulch. 



able depth. Plowing should not be of the same depth from year to 

 year, for by so doing the soil is not mi.xed well and a hard surface 

 is left at the bottom of the furrow Avhere the horses walk and the plow 

 drags. A little sub-soil turned to the surface occasionally will be 

 acted upon by the atmospheric elements and plant food liberated. As 

 it becomes mixed with the surface soil and vegetable growth, the 

 depth of surface soil will be increased. A compact soil is less per- 

 vious to air and moisture, and if organic matter is covered too deeply 

 it will not decay for some time on that account. In general, to accom- 

 plish the most desirable results, it is advisable to plow a little deeper 

 each season for several successive seasons, and then for one season 

 give a plowing at about half of the depth of the deepest plowing. It 

 is well to have the farm mapped, the various fields numbered and 

 records kept of the annual treatment and production of each field. 



Shallow plowing. Shallow plowing is not practiced in the fall 'n 

 the corn belt, but is customary in the spring because the deeper the 

 plowing the greater is the amount of labor required to re-establish the 

 capillary connection with the sub-soil. This labor is performed by 

 Nature when plowing is done in the fall, while much discing, harrow- 

 ing, and even rolling is often necessary to rectify the severing of 

 capillary ccmnectioii in the spring. This capillarity is not re-estab 



