PLANTING AND CULTIVATING THE CORN CROP 245 



CULTIVATING THE CROP 



297. The objects of interculture in corn production 

 are: (1) the destruction of weeds; (2) the conservation of 

 moisture; (3) increasing the availabiUty of plant-food by- 

 soil aeration, and (4) preventing run-off of rainfall by 

 keeping the surface loose and porous. 



The relative value of each of the above objects will 

 vary according to locality and season. On all soils in arid 

 regions, except the adobe soils, the conservation of mois- 

 ture is of first importance whereas the soil aeration re- 

 sulting from interculture has little or no value owing to 

 the natural high porosity of arid soils. Numerous care- 

 fully conducted experiments have shown that in humid 

 regions the destruction of weeds is unquestionably the 

 function of primary importance in crop cultivation. This 

 function may, however, take a secondary place during 

 seasons of limited rainfall or periods of protracted drought. 

 Again on certain compact clays in humid regions, soil 

 aeration may become paramount among the objects of 

 interculture. The studious farmer will become familiar 

 with the objects bf interculture and will strive to secure 

 them to the greatest degree without injuriously mutilating 

 the root-system of his crop. 



298. Importance of thorough early cultivation. — For 

 best results, corn must make a steady vigorous growth 

 from germination to maturity. The effects of an unfavor- 

 able condition which checks the early growth of the crop 

 cannot be overcome by any amount of subsequent culti- 

 vation. Thrifty, strong, thick corn plants are most gen- 

 erally the result of proper treatment during their early 

 growth. 



The seed-bed being properly prepared, cultivation should 



