180 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



Two corn rows are planted earlj^ at distances of 3 or S-'- 

 feet ; an interval of 6 or 7 feet is left, and then two more 

 corn rows are planted. In this interval is planted a row 

 of peanuts. 



The Allison method of growing corn and cotton together consists 

 in the planting of two rows of corn and two rows of cotton, 

 the rows all being narrow, that is, of the usual distance for cotton 

 rows. Corn is planted more thickly in the drills than usual, the 

 rule being, in this method, to grow on each half acre occupied by 

 the corn rows as many hundred stalks as the number of bushels 

 of corn that one acre of this soil would be expected to yield in 

 solid corn, planted as usual. This alternation of the two crops is 

 advantageous to the corn, which receives additional light, and 

 probably more than its share of moisture and plant-food. There 

 are corresponding losses to the cotton crop. Moreover, should the 

 corn be blown down, the late cultivation of cotton would be pre- 

 vented. 



The same criticisms applj', but to a less extent, to the occasional 

 practice of planting two adjacent rows of corn and then either si.x, 

 eight, or ten rows of cotton, repeating this indefinitely. 



" Crossed corn" is a method that seems to be localized in the 

 wa.xy lime lands of Alabama and Mississippi. It consists in the 

 planting in fields of cotton of a row of corn across or perpendicu- 

 lar to the cotton rows, at intervals of 16 to ,30 feet, lea^-ing 3 to 4 

 corn plants in each hill. This usually insures a crop of 4 to 10 

 bushels of corn per acre, in addition to the cotton crop. However, 

 the presence of the corn greatly reduces the yield of cotton. In a 

 test at the Georgia Station, "crossed corn" in a cotton field 

 resulted in a financial loss, as compared with cotton grown 

 alone. 



Another olijeetion to "crossed corn" is its interference with 

 late cultivation of the cotton, should the corn be blown down. 

 The principal justification of this practice lies in the fact that 

 many careless renters fail to cultivate their corn properly when 

 planted alone, but are more careful of the cultivation of cotton, 

 and hence of the corn grown in the cotton field. 



