INDIAN CORN. 361 



vation. Among other things it should receive harrowing 

 or rolling sufficient to pulverize every clod-in the field. 



Much difference exists as to the time of planting, some 

 planting early, others late. It will generally be seen that 

 late planting, except in exceptional cases, makes light corn. 

 It is true, it requires less work by probably one plowing, 

 but the difference is more than compensated in lessened 

 yield. All other things being equal, the ground will be 

 ready to plant so soon as nature gives the word, which she 

 unerringly does, by throwing out the flag of dogwood blos- 

 soms and redbuds. These signs have been acted on since 

 the Indians taught their observance, and the man who fol- 

 lows this signal will, as a rule, succeed. Some plant with 

 the blossoming of the apple tree, but that is getting late, 

 and he who plants late will, if there is a drought, strike it 

 at the silking time of his corn. 



The corn well planted, is half the battle in the crop, in- 

 deed the en p may be said to be half made. Let the planter 

 stir the- surface every ten days, thinning out to two, and in 

 thin lands to one stalk to the hill. 



It was once thought best to stir deeply with every plow- 

 ing, but experience has proved that the deep culture should 

 be done before planting. The surface roots of corn are the 

 ones that sustain it and make the thrifty plant, and it were 

 better they should not be disturbed at all. But this is in- 

 evitable, on account of the germination of weed and grass 

 seeds, and the necessity for a circulation of air through the 

 soil. Three things are requisite for the rapid growth of 

 plants, viz: light, air and moisture, and to afford a con- 

 stant supply of these necessities a gentle stirring of the sur- 

 face is necessary. But, at the same time, the fact of the ex- 

 istence of rootlets all over the ground will deter the prudent 

 farmer from going too deep. By keeping the crust broken, 

 air can pass in, giving stimulus to the disintegration of the 

 nutrient elements, the chemical effect of light passes direct, 

 ly to the roots, and a large amount of moisture is absorbed 



