42 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



remaining one-quarter of the world's production, Europe produces about 

 two-thirds and South America and Australia the remainder. 



Soil and Climatic Adaptation. — Corn is best adapted to well-drained 

 soils that are deep, loamy and warm. Large yields demand a high-water 

 capacity of the soil and this is materially increased by deep drainage, 

 deep plowing and organic matter. Corn requires a growing season rang- 

 ing from 100 to 170 days, through which period the temperature should 

 be high and accompanied by warm rains. An abundance of rainfall 

 properly distributed is essential. In the typical corn belt the rainfall 

 during July and August is most important, and the yield of corn is deter- 

 mined to a considerable extent by the rain during these two months. 



Chart Showing How Closely Corn Yield Follows Amount op Rainfall. 



The accompanying chart shows the average yield of corn for a period of 

 fifteen years, together with the July precipitation for the same years. 

 There is a fairly close correlation between July rainfall and the average 

 yield of corn. 



It is not profitable to grow corn on very poor land. The nature 

 of the corn plant is such that it will not produce grain unless the soil is 

 sufficiently rich to afford considerable growth of stalk. In general, the 

 richer the soil the heavier will be the yield of grain. Some other crops 

 will produce .fair yields on soil too poor to produce corn. 



Crop Rotation for Corn. — Corn cannot be grown continuously on the 

 same soil without diminished yields. A rotation of crops is, therefore, 

 essential, In this rotation should occur at least one leguminous crop. 



