160 SOUTRERN FIELD CROPS 



are to be planted ; (2) plowing land on the level, which is 

 called flush or broadcast plowing ; (3) preparing the land 

 so that corn may be planted in the water-furrow or de- 

 pression between the beds. 



Ridging, or bedding, is confined to a few regions where 

 the drainage is deficient ; for example, the prairie or stiff, 

 waxy lime lands of Alabama and A'lississipiDi. Even 

 here, while bedding is perhaps generally necessary for corn 

 planted early on poorly drained soil, it can often be dis- 

 pensed with, or the height of the beds can be reduced. The 

 disadvantages of planting on elevated ridges are great, 

 among them being the following : — 



(1) More surface is exposed to evaporation and the row 

 dries out more rapidly ; 



(2) The depth of soil left in the water furrow is insuffi- 

 cient to support plant roots, thus confining them largely 

 to the limited area immediately under the ridge. 



The one purpose and advantage of ridging is to secure 

 increased drainage and warmth. Hence, even in the re- 

 gions where usually regarded as necessary', the ridging of 

 corn that is planted late is usuall}- undesirable. 



150. A modified ridging system. — A sj'stem that has 

 not come into general use but that has been recommended 

 for stiff, poorl}^ drained soil, is the following, which affords 

 drainage on one side of each row, and on the other side 

 all the advantages of level planting. 



Prepare the field Ijy back-furrowdng so as to make eight- 

 foot lands, or lands of double the wdth desired for a single 

 row. Plant two rows 4 feet apart on this eight-foot land. 

 This places each row 2 feet from a water-furrow on one 

 side. The other side of the same row can be tilled level. 



