12 
Colorado Experiment Station 
management has been found more successful on many soils than more 
frequent plowing and the cost of following the system is very low. 
Upon the soils which give better results from plowing each season, 
the soil should preferably be plowed early in the fall, the earlier the 
better. 
Over most of the Plains area, corn can be planted by the loth of 
May. In the extreme southeastern part of the Colorado Plains, plant¬ 
ing can be done the last of April or the first of May. In the extreme 
eastern part, some planting may be done by the first of May, but usually 
it is not wise to put in corn very much before May lo. Nearly always 
the Plains are subjected to a frost about the middle of May and there 
is little use of getting corn in prior to this danger period for frosts. By 
this time, the ground has become somewhat warmed so that the crop 
will start off readily. 
Corn should be planted in rows 3^2 feet apart. If drilled on the 
dry land there should be one seed about every 18 to 22 inches. If check- 
rowed, only two kernels to the hill should be planted. 
In very dry localities where experience shows difficulty of getting 
sufficient moisture to produce a crop, the rows may be planted 7 feet 
apart or double the usual distance. When thoroly cultivated, such wide 
planting insures a crop in years when ordinary planting fails. With 
such wide planting, the seed may be put in a little thicker, 15 to 18 
inches, in the row when drilled. This method of planting has been 
tried with success in several Colorado Plains localities. 
Varieties .—There are an infinite number of corn varieties, but 
owing to the altitude and the shortness of the season, only the short 
season or so-called northern corns should be planted. Of the native 
varieties which have been tried out, the Swadley Dent, the White 
Australian Flint, and Parson’s High Altitude corn have given very 
excellent results. For the more northern portions of the Colorado 
Plains area. Pride of the North, Minnesota Nnmber 13, Minnesota 
Number 23, and Wisconsin Number 7 have been tried and have given 
good results. Of the imported corns, Minnesota Number 13 and 
Wisconsin Nnmber 7 have been among the best. Minnesota Number 
23 has not been tested a very long period of time, but gives promise. 
For dry land forage purposes, it is unwise to plant the large-eared, 
late maturing types of corn. They are more subject to injury, will not 
j)ro(luce as heavy yields and will not mature seed with any certainty. 
Cultivation .—The major portion of corn cultivation should be done 
in the preparation of the seed bed. Cultivation after planting should 
be relatively shallow and frequent enough to prevent weeds gaining a 
foothold, and prevent the formation of a crust. For this purpose, the 
use of a type of cultivator having numerous shovels to the gang should 
be used. Numerous small shovels work up the entire surface thoroly 
and do a better job than the larger shovels as ordinarily used. Cultiva¬ 
tion should be approximately four inches deep. It is seldom wise to 
go deeper, as root pruning becomes severe and very injurious, espec¬ 
ially iu drv times. 
Harvestiiio ;.—For forage purposes it should be the plan of the dry 
farmer to ]mt his corn crop largely in the silo. Corn should be allowed 
