CHAPTER VIII 



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^■THE time for planting corn is after the seedbed 

 / 1 1 has been so prepared as to furnish the con- 

 ^■^ ditions of germination, and danger from frost 

 is passed. There is a decided loss to the 

 grower by planting corn under unfavorable conditions 

 or by having it cut down by frost. If cut off by frost 

 the seed will regerminate, but the plant will never 

 recover its vigor and vitality. Regermination always 

 results in a lessened yield. 



Late Planting — If planted too late the plant does 

 not have time enough during the growing season to 

 mature. Absolute rules for the time of planting for 

 all sections of the country are obviously impossible. 

 However, there is a time every season which is favor- 

 able for planting. It is the business of the farmer to 

 have the seedbed prepared in order to take advantage 

 of this propitious time. 



The depth of planting varies with the kind of 

 soil. In general corn should be planted deeper in 

 light, loose, sandy soils than in heavy clay soils. This 

 rule holds true, because in order to furnish the required 

 amount of moisture for germination it is necessary to 

 go deeper in loose soils than in the heavier clay soils. 

 Further, it is easier for the plumule to reach the sur- 

 face in loose than in heavy soils, as the young plant 

 cannot secure any plant food from the air or soil until 

 the leaves reach the surface. 



It is necessary to plant shallow so that the seed 

 will furnish enough plant food to supply the young 

 plants until the leaves reach the atmosphere and the 



