162 



TILTH AND TILLAGE 



sections conservation of moisture and aeration aie sometimes 

 questioned, because different results have been attained under 

 different conditions. A few of these results are of interest. 



In Illinois. — On the common corn-belt soil of Illinois (brown 

 silt loam) the following mne-year averages m corn were obtained: 



Method of cultivation 



(a) Land plowed, seed bed prepared, weeds allowed to grow 

 (6) Land plowed, seed bed prepared, no cultivation, weeds 



kept down by scraping with hoe 

 (c) Land plowed, seed bed prepared, cultivated 3 times 



Yield per acre 



7 4 bushels 

 48 9 bushels 



43 3 bushels 



In Minnesota^ during a dry year, the following corn yields 

 were secured on a ''black loam soil containing considerable sand'': 



Method of cultivation 



(a) When all weeds were allowed to grow 



(6) Whea weeds were cut with hoe without stirring soil 



(c) When cultivated 6 tunes (3 times each way) 



Yield per acre 



4 bushels 

 45 8 bushels 

 50 6 bushels 



In Wisconsin. — On a heavy silt loam (Miami) the following 

 results were seemed during a year m which no beneficial ram fell 

 during the period between July 3 and August 12 



Method of cultivation 



Yield 



per acre 



(corn) 



Rated 

 quality 

 of corn 



Character 

 of growth 



(a) Land plowed, seed bed prepared, weeds 



kept down with a sharp hoe, soil not 

 stirred m the least 



(b) First two cultivations 3 5 inches deep, 



subsequent cultivation shallow, and 

 as often as was necessary to kill weeds 

 and mamtam a good mulch 



44 6 

 bushels 



74 8 

 bushels 



70 

 per cent 



99 5 

 per cent 



Uneven 



Excellent 

 and uniform 



During a dry summer following a wet spring (1916), the follow- 

 ing results were obtained in growing soybean hay in rows on sand 

 at Hancock, Wisconsin. Very little rain fell between June 30 

 and August 15. 



Method of cultivatioii 



Yield of hay 

 per acre 



{a) No cultivation, but weeds were cut with a hoe, soil stirred 



the least possible 

 (&) Frequent cultivation 



1875 pounds 

 3660 pounds 



