CORN 



193 



idea is now being gradually abandoned as many good 

 farmers are coming to believe (1) that the seed bed should 

 be prepared before, not after, planting, and (2) that the 

 severing of roots by deep cultivation works serious injury 

 to the gro\\ing plants, especially if this occurs after they 

 have attained considerable size. 



131. Depth of Cultivation. — No fixed rule can be 

 given as to the proper depth of cultivation. If the seed 



Fig. 84. — Depth of corn roots. 



bed has not been well prepared, deep stirring may be 

 beneficial while the plants are small. However, as they 

 become larger, the deep cultivation should be discon- 

 tinued, as otherwise the shallow, spreading roots are cut off. 

 There is but one way to tell how deep it is safe to cul- 

 tivate. This is to make a careful examination to ascertain 



