EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF CULTIVATION. AVERAGE OF FOUR YEARS' TESTS.
(Yield in bushels per acre.) M grim° Weeds allowed to grow 511 Weeds cut vrith hoe and a loose mulch made with hoe freguent cultivation 96 Two inches deep cultivation (small shovels) 90 Pour inches deep cultivation (small shovels) 91 Six inches deep cultivation (small shovels) 84 Six inches deep cultivation (large shovels) 87 Gopher or blade cultivator as Deep early and shallow late as Shallow early and deep late Mulched with grass 91 The results of the above trials indicate that all competition with weeds must be prevented, from the fact that they live upon the same ele ments of fertility as the corn plants, and in this way reduce the yield of the corn crop. Deep cultivation injures the roots of the corn plant and reduces the yield. Shallow, frequent culti vation, removing the weeds, keeping a soil mulch on the surface of the soil, gives the best results. This conclusion agrees in general with the facts of ordinary practice in well-drained and fertile soils. In very weedy fields, un drained and in poor condition, it may be neces sary to cultivate deeply in order to destroy the weeds, open the soil to the air and sunshine and allow the excessive water to drain off.
In summing up the important facts of culti vation, the following points should be empha sized: 1. The preparation of the seed bed should be
such as to best conserve soil moisture, and ob tain the most favorable mechanical soil condi tion.
2. The cultivation of the growing crop should be such as to avoid all root injury, maintaining a loose surface soil mulch, and preventing the presence of all weeds or competing plants.
3. The method of planting and caring for the crop will depend upon local conditions to such an extent that it is necessary for every grower to make a thorough study of his pecu liar conditions of soil and climate in relation to his methods of cultivation.
4. The conditions of growth for the corn crop are moisture, heat, light and plant food. The supplying of the conditions in the most favorable manner to the corn plants is the business of the grower and will have the largest profitable returns. Com is more easily pro tected from its animal and insect enemies than most of the important crops. Of those insects that attack the roots and larvw are gotten
rid of by rotation. Fall plowing disposes in great part of the cutworm. For ear rot the sole remedy appears to be the gathering up and burning of all affected material. Consult Mont gomery, 'Corn Crops) (New York 1913); Bow man and Crossley,