152 HARNESSING THE EARTHWORM 



bunch up?" "And," they add, "aren't your fields 'dirty,' and 

 isn't that litter an A-l incubator for pests?" 



Gallup says "No" to both questions. He is, in fact, strongly 

 of the view that "earthworm tillage" keeps down the corn borers. 



Early in the spring before a bit of new growth starts, the 

 trash even heavy trash like corn stubble is quite tender after 

 having been softened by frost and snow. Warm sun and spring 

 rains, and the worms, hurry its decay. Even at the first har- 

 rowing, Gallup says the trash almost never bunches, and by plant- 

 ing time it has disappeared. 



When he brings a piece of sod into cultivation, Gallup cuts 

 the sod with a disc harrow late in July, and rakes crossways 

 with the spring-tooth. Next he manures heavily and rakes in 

 lightly with the spring-tooth. After five cultivations, he sows 

 rye, and is ready by spring for his regular procedure. 



You notice at once that he cultivates both in preparation 

 and in regular tillage more often than usual. However, the 

 tractor in high speed can harrow five or six times as fast as plow 

 or cultivator can travel. 



While the soil is still loose the corn is drilled in rows with 

 a planter and cultivator with hiller-discs that throw a heavy ridge 

 over the driled seed. This, he believes, gives extra moisture for 

 germination. Four to eight days later the cultivator with weeder 

 teeth in front breaks down the ridge, destroying any young weeds. 

 When the corn is a foot high the hiller-disc again throws back 

 the ridge. Tractor cutivation continues until the corn is two feet 

 high. 



Gallup does not use hybrid seed. This spring he will plant 

 selected seed from his 1944 crop, which will be detasseled for 

 growing seed. He will also plant selected corn from his 1943 

 crop for the pollen rows in his seed plot. He thinks this avoids 

 the disadvantages of inbreeding and gives vigor. 



"Part of our increased yields/ 1 says Gallup, "is due to this 

 kind of seed selection. But the method of cultivation which 

 brings on more earthworms is mainly responsible." Maybe he 

 has something. 



