162 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



permeable gray wandy soil (Norfolk sandy loam), the 

 yield was one year favorable and one year unfavorable 

 to this method as compared with level planting. 



Planting corn in water-furrows is not to be commended 

 for stiff soils; but for permeable sandy soils, this course 

 seems to be a(h'isalile. 



153. Preparation for planting in the water-furrow. — 

 This system is the most popular one on sand}- uplands and 

 other dry soils. When the preparation is to be thorough, 

 ridges are made by l)ack-furro'wing in such a way as to 

 leave the water-furrows about 5 feet ai:)art. The bed is not 

 quite completed, but a narrow strip or balk, 6 to 8 inches 

 wide, where the water-furrow will lie, is left implowed 

 until the farmer is nearly read}' to plant corn. Then with 

 a shovel plow, he throws out this balk and plants the seed 

 in the freshly liroken furrow, often by means of a com- 

 l)ined fertilizer (listril.)utor and planter, which places lioth 

 fertilizer and seed at the bottom of the newh- made water- 

 furrow and 5 to 8 inches below the level of the highest jiart 

 of the ridge. 



During tillage, the soil of the ridge is worked toward 

 the plants in the water-furrow, so that, when the cro]) is 

 laid by, the field is practically level. 



" Listing " is a special method of jilanting in a deep 

 furrow; it is common in the dr}' regions of the Southwest. 



154. Depth of plowing. — Xaturall}' this should var}- 

 with the character of the soil and the depth of the pre- 

 vious plo\\dng. In general, it ma}- b(- said that most 

 Southern corn fields are not plowed i\rc]^ enough. The 

 increase in de])th is best made gra.dualh', plowing eai'h 

 year one inch deejier than the ]ireceding, until the desired 



