Forage: Crops For The: Colorado Plains 
II 
CORN 
Corn is commonly considered a grain crop, yet upon the Colo¬ 
rado Plains it is one of the 1 ading forage crops, and in many sections 
will be the leading grain forage crop. In the higher and moister 
sections, on the Arkansas-Platte Divide region, corn will produce 
a greater tonnage than any other similar forage. There are many 
other localities where it will out-yield the grain or forage sorghums. 
Where corn will out-yield such other crops it should be used for 
forage. It makes an excellent fodder where properly cured and 
when stored in the silo makes the very best silage possible. Corn 
can be grown in cooler localities than can any of the sorghums. It 
is probable, therefor, that corn will take the first place in the cooler 
and moister sections, while the sorghums will take first place in the 
dryer and hotter sections of our territory. 
Preparation of the Soil .—The best method of soil preparation 
for corn depends upon the charart r of the soil, the rotation, and 
the crop which precedes corn on the land. If the land is rather light 
and sandy, fall plowing is not wise on account of danger of soil 
blowing. However, such lands may usually be managed so as to 
keep down weeds and put the surface in shape for catching winter 
and spring moisture. Where small grain or an early harvested culti¬ 
vated crop preceded corn, the land may be double disked at once 
to kill weeds and put the surface in good condition for catching rain¬ 
fall. Then, instead of plowing, the land is listed. Experiment shows 
that this practice stops danger of blowing. In the spring, just as early 
as possible, the middles are broken out. 
Listing tends to lengthen the time required to develop corn to full 
maturity, consequentl}^ planting corn on listed land is not always advis¬ 
able. Where, on account of the difficulty of maturing listed corn, it is 
advisable to surface plant, the listed ground is worked down by disking 
and harrowing. 
Often on the lighter lands, experiment has shown a system may 
be followed v.diich keeps down weeds and conserves moisture at a great 
reduction of labor without reducing yields. Thus the cost of production 
is kept down. The suggested system is carried out as follows, starting 
the system and rotation with summer tilled land. The first crop put 
on is winter wheat. Immediately after the binder, the land is double 
disked for the double purpose of killing all weeds which spring up and 
to put the surface in good condition to catch rainfall. The following 
spring the land is double disked early, then corn or other cultivated crop 
is planted. Following corn, small grain is planted. The yields of grain 
after corn or other clean cultivated crop are nearly as large as after the 
fallow. As this last small grain crop is cut, the land is double disked. 
It is then allowed to lie. The following spring, as soon as weeds start, 
the soil is again disked to kill weeds, preserve tilth and the better to 
catch rainfall. In June and July the land is plowed thoroly and deeply, 
disked and harrowed immediately behind the plow. Winter wheat is 
planted in September and the rotation is under way again. Such 
