I20 THE BOOK OF CORN 



the young plants and cut out the small weeds. They 

 cannot be covered up and killed with loose dirt, and the 

 consequence is that the corn is injured by weeds and 

 the weed roots are allowed to mature and seed the field. 



Where the listed corn is checked, this disadvantage 

 is partly done away with, and the field corn can be more 

 perfectly cleaned. In the loose, sandy soils listing 

 might be an advantage. The seed is put down deep 

 enough to secure plenty of moisture for germination 

 and the soil is usually warmed up as deep as the seed 

 is planted. It is further claimed than a deeper root 

 development is a result of listing and that listed com 

 will withstand the storms of summer better than corn 

 not listed. 



At the Illinois station, extensive series of experi- 

 ments with listing compared to ordinary culture showed 

 there was little difference between the listed corn and 

 the corn planted in the ordinary manner. In fact, ob- 

 servations on this point in different sections of the state 

 showed that corn planted in the ordinary manner 

 seemed to stand up better than the listed corn. The 

 results of the experiments at this station showed a 

 uniformly larger yield from the corn planted with the 

 ordinary planter than the listed corn. The soil in the 

 listed fields was left in poor condition to stand the rains 

 of winter, and was exceedingly difficult to plow in the 

 spring. A large crop of weeds was grown in the field, 

 even with the most careful and frequent cultivation. 

 In the western states, where the fields have not become 

 seeded to noxious weeds as yet, and with their peculiar 

 conditions, listing may be an economical and satisfac- 

 tory method of planting com. 



Number of Stalks per Hill — ^The number of stalks 

 to plant in the hill will vary with the variety of com 

 and with the character of the soil. With a large variety 

 of improved com, a few stalks in the hill will give 



