1909] A Russian Method of Corn Cultivation. 741 



ences, the tillering shoots multiply and the roots develop to a 

 very much greater extent than they otherwise would. 



The process of earthing-up may be carried out with a 

 machine like a small hand hoe or cultivator, the tines of which 

 are arranged so as to throw the earth between the rows over 

 the plants on each side, while the outside tines cover the out- 

 side of the rows. A simple instrument suitable for working 

 three rows at a time may be made something like a large rake 

 by fixing four suitable blades at the proper distances on a 

 beam or head which is fitted with a handle and can be pulled 

 steadily along the rows. This presses up the earth round the 

 plants, and also serves to eradicate weeds. A week or ten 

 days afterwards, if the plants can be seen to have grown, the 

 process can be repeated. A final earthing-up is recommended 

 some months later in the case of winter crops. 



A number of experiments have been conducted in Russia, 

 and the results obtained in two cases are given in M. 

 Demtschinsky's pamphlet. 



One experiment with oats was carried out in the province 

 of Kursk on a plot 163 square yards in extent. The sowing 

 was done by a hand-drill on the 5th April, the first earthing- 

 up on the 7th and 8th May, and the second about June 10th. 



The plants were covered to a depth of if inches at each 

 operation, and on the 20th July the ground was hoed for 

 weeds. In the middle of May the oats were about 12 inches 

 high, flowers appeared at the beginning of June, and as early 

 as the end of the month the ears began to appear. The 

 crop was reaped by the end of July; a yield of 190^ lb. was 

 obtained from 163 square yards. 



This, as M. Demtschinsky points out, is equivalent to 

 145 bushels per acre (39 lb. to the bushel), but no accurate 

 conclusions can be drawn from so small an area. 



An experiment on a larger scale in the province of Kursk 

 is also mentioned. Here barley was grown and a crop of 

 47 bushels per acre (50 lb. to the bushel) was obtained by 

 earthing-up, as against 33 J bushels by ordinary cultivation. 

 The expenditure is stated to have been practically the same 

 in both cases. 



The second method which is advocated is that of trans- 

 planting and deep-setting. The seed can be sown either 



