the free action of the sun and air. For the tall-growing Southern varie¬ 
ties of corn, three and a half to four feet apart in the rows, with from 
two and a half to three feet between the plants, has been found to give 
the best results. If the land be rich, two stalks may be left in each 
hill. 
Cut-worms and crows are often troublesome in corn when first 
germinating. The cut-worm may be successfully destroyed by dampen¬ 
ing fifty pounds of bran, and thoroughly mix with it one pound of Paris 
green. Place a spoonful of the mixture near each plant. The worms 
will feed on this in preference to the plant, and be poisoned. Crows 
may best be combatted with poisoned corn scattered in the field. 
Do not plant too deep; from four to five inches has been found to 
be the beSt depth. Cover the seed with a light ridge. 
While giving attention to the preparation of the land required for the 
corn, cotton and tobacco crops, do not overlook the important forage 
crop required to meet the needs of the live stock. Too often the only 
preparation made to meet the calls of the animals has been the fodder 
from the corn crop. This is not sufficient for their wants. In July and 
August pastures become burnt and bare. Then there should be a field 
of cow peas or soja beans to cut and feed to the stock. Without such 
a help stock are apt to lose in July and August what they have gained in 
May and June. 
WORK FOR MAY. 
May is the one month in the whole year upon which, in the north¬ 
ern tier of the Southern States, depends most of the success to be at¬ 
tained on the farm. Before planting a grain of corn, see to it that every 
acre of land to be planted is put into as fine a condition of tilth as possi¬ 
ble. Do not hesitate to harrow and reharrow until the land to the depth 
broken is in the condition of a fine garden bed. Deep fall and winter 
plowing, perfect preparation of the soil before planting, and shallow, fre¬ 
quent cultivation during growth, are the prime factors in securing great 
yields. The records show that the best average yields have, over a long 
series of years, been made by corn planted in May, before the 20th of the 
month. Formerly, the prime necessity in cultivating the corn crop was 
thought to be the destruction of weeds. While this is necessary, a much 
more important purpose is that of conserving the moisture. Both these 
purposes can be best attained by shallow cultivation and the preservation 
of a level surface between the rows and around the plants. After the 
corn has been planted, the plow is out of place in the corn field, and its 
use is undoubtedly attended with injury to the crop, as it cuts the feeding 
roots of the corn, which are mainly to be found in the first four inches 
of the soil. The best implement with which to give the first two workings 
is a seed-harrow. Let this be run lengthwise of the rows, and very little, 
if any, corn will be pulled up. After these two workings, use a culti¬ 
vator, or a disc-harrow, for the next working. Set the discs carefully, 
so as not to strike the plants. The later workings should be with a cul¬ 
tivator, like the Iron Age cultivator. Repeat the cultivation so frequently 
as to keep the surface always covered with a mulch of fine, loose soil, so 
long as it is possible to work between the rows, or until the corn is in 
tassel. 
Get the tobacco land into good condition for planting as soon as 
possible, so that when the plants are ready they can at once be set out 
in the first good planting season. 
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