CORN 181 



and they are placed in the box in which they are seen 

 to belong. 



When the shelling is finished and the seed has been 

 graded in this way, we have three sizes of seed. Even 

 planting then becomes merely a matter of changing the 

 plates in the machine when changing from one size of 

 seed to another. If the planter does not drop the seed 

 evenly, the grading, not the machine, should be blamed. 



119. The Ideal Seed Bed for Corn. — The ground in 

 which the seed is planted is known as the seed bed. An 

 ideal seed bed for corn may be described as follows : 



First: It should contain an abundance of available 

 plant food. 



Second : It should be finely pulverized. 



Third : It should be loose and mellow so that the particles 

 may lie closely and compactly against the germinating 

 seeds and yet allow air and moisture to move freely 

 through it. (Sections 46 and 47.) 



Fourth : It should be reasonably free from weed seeds. 



Fifth : It should be free from injurious insects. 



Sixth : The surface should be made smooth to allow the 

 easy movement of machinery. 



The methods to be employed in securing these condi- 

 tions depend chiefly upon the character of the preceding 

 crop and the condition in which it has left the ground. 

 Corn is usually planted, — 



(1) In sod ground; i.e., land previously in grasses 

 or clovers. 



(2) In cornstalk ground, or land previously in corn. 



(3) In stubble ground; i.e., land previously in small 

 grain. 



