CHAPTER XIX 



PREPARING THE SEED-BED FOR CORN 



Cultural methods for any crop must vary with the 

 local situation. Any discussion of this phase of corn pro- 

 duction, to be applicable to the entire cotton-belt, must 

 deal largely with basic principles rather than with details. 

 The basic principles underlying the preparation of the seed- 

 bed for corn are (1) modifying the soil in such a way as 

 to enable it best to meet the special demands of the crop 

 for food and water, and (2) protecting the crop from weeds, 

 insects, or parasites. The farmer himself must determine 

 by study and experience the detailed system whereby 

 these principles are to be most profitably applied on his 

 own farm. 



PLOWING- THE LAND 



279. Destroying the stalks. — The southern corn- 

 grower often follows the undesirable practice of growing 

 corn every year on the same land. Where rotation is 

 practiced, corn most often follows cotton. In either sys- 

 tem the old corn or cotton stalks must be disposed of 

 previously to- plowing the land for the succeeding corn 

 crop. Often these stalks are burned. Such a practice 

 is never warranted in the cotton-belt where the greatest 

 need of the soil is organic matter. To destroy the stalks 

 so that they can be easily plowed under, one of the follow- 

 ing methods may be followed. (1) By use of the stalk- 



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