CORN 195 



servation is more important than at any previous time. 

 The correctness of this principle is abundantly shown by 

 the fact that those farmers, who, in dry seasons, make it 

 a practice to cultivate their corn throughout the hot, dry 

 months whenever a crust begins to form almost invariably 

 secure a very substantial increase in yield. The cultiva- 

 tor used for this work is made to go between the rows. 

 It is fitted with very small shovels, or even with harrow 

 teeth, and is frequently made at home. 



A twofold injury results in case a crust is allowed 

 to form upon the surface : the moisture, of which the 

 plants stand in great need, is lost by evaporation ; and by 

 the cracking of the dried-out soil, which almost invariably 

 occurs, the roots that occupy the best part of the plants' 

 feeding ground are broken or torn apart in large numbers, 

 this being especially true of the smaller ones. 



133. Cultivation of Listed Corn. — Three things must 

 be kept in mind in cultivating hsted corn : 



(1) The furrows should be opened out while the 

 corn is just becoming established in order that the 

 young plants may receive the maximum amount of 

 sunlight. 



(2) The weeds that appear on the shoulder of the 

 ridge and about the young plants should be destroyed. 



(3) The furrow should be gradually filled up as the 

 corn becomes older that the roots may be protected from 

 the drying effect of the winds of midsummer. (Section 

 123.) 



The furrows are opened out by discs which work in the 

 bottom and against the shoulders of the ridges. This 

 operation also destroys weeds on the sides and tops of 

 the ridges. Small, curved knives or discs should follow 

 behind and throw a very slight amount of dirt about the 



