CORN 185 



The harrow should follow the plow within half a day as 

 a rule. In this way, the formation of clods can be pre- 

 vented, and the mulch which is formed prevents the seed 

 bed from drying out. 



122. Preparing a Seed Bed in Stubble Ground. — 

 Small grain in the rotation really ought to be followed by 

 clover or some other legume to restore nitrogen to the 

 soil. Com, therefore, should not be planted in stubble 

 ground. This rule may be disregarded only in case a 

 liberal application of barnyard manure is made a part 

 of the preparation of the ground for corn. 



In this case, the successive steps should be about as 

 follows : 



(1) The stubble should be disced as soon as the small 

 grain is removed. This will form a mulch, prevent further 

 loss of moisture, destroy weeds, cause weed and other seeds 

 to germinate so that they will not be present in the ground 

 the following spring, and make the draft lighter for the plow. 



(2) Barnyard manure should be applied liberally with 

 a manure spreader. 



(3) The ground should be plowed in the fall as its 

 moisture-holding capacity is thereby greatly increased. 



(4) It should be disced very early in the spring, as 

 otherwise the rough plowed soil will dry out badly and the 

 corn crop may be injured by the lack of moisture later. 



(5) The ground should be disced and harrowed until 

 mellow and well pulverized when the final preparation 

 is being made for planting. 



123. Planting the Seed. — There are three common 

 methods of planting com : 



(1) It may be checked; i.e., planted in hills in such a 

 manner that rows are formed both lengthwise and cross- 



