The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-11
!: WORK OF TG][E MON t III ]


;mnortanca of bearing this distion in
mind is great. Unless we have early and
timely rains. and these are continued
through this and the following month,
there is likely to be much need for very
frequent cultivation all through the pc
Rod of crop growth he depth to which
cultivation should extend has great bear
ing upon the conservation of the mois-
ture Experiments conducted at several
places have established the fact that cul-
tivation to the depth of three inches will
leave and keep the soil more moist be-
low the soil stirred than cultivation one
and one-half inches deep; and that not
only is the two feet of soil under the
three inches cultivated moister than the
two feet under a surface cultivated one
and one-half inches deep but that this
two feet of moist soil is able to draw up
water fro mthe deeper soil much quicker
than is the two feet below a surface cul-
tivated one and one-half inches deep.
Therefore cultivate the crop frequently
whether weeds appear or not, and do not
cultivate deeper than four inches, nor
less than two inches. Let the first cult
walton be made with a weeder or harrow
before the corn comes through the ground
This system of cultivation may be con-
tinued with advantage and safety until
the plants are six inches high. Whilst
it seems a harsh way in which to treat
the crop. we have done~it and never saw
anything but good to result Practically
very few plants are broken or injured
Later cultivation should be done with
the riding or walking cultivator, of which
there are many makes on the market, or
with the Iron Age Cultivator Which
ever make is used, let it be only such
one as will thoroughly stir the two or
three inches of top SOIL and will run as
close to the plants as can be done WIFE
out disturbing them. Let all cultivation
be so done as to keep the land level. A
pillow should never be used to cultivate
corn crop, unless it be in rich river low
grounds where climbing vines are very
persistent in growth in the rows between
the plants when, as these cannot be
reached with a cultivator, and the cost
of hoeing is too great, light one-horse
pillow may sometimes be used with ad-
vantage to throw a light furrow on to
the young vines to smother them. but
even in such cases cultivator should
follow the pillow in a few days to level
the land between the rows and keep down
any killing The necessity of throwing a
hill or furrowoo the corn plant is mis-
taken idea 1t tends to the loss of mois-
ture from the land, as it exposes much
greater surface to the action of the sun,
whilst it serves no good purposes in
holding up the crop. If the plant is kept
growing vigorously, it will throw out
roots in all directions, which will so
brace the plant as to prevent it falling
over except in a great storm, and even
killing with very heavy hill or furrow
will not prevent damage in such case.
Cultivate as long as the team can go
through the crop without injuring it, and
at the last cultivation SOW COW peas,
sapling clover, or German clover over the
land, and thus secure the growth of
crop to help to feed the land and make
something extra in the way of pasturage
in the fall, winter and spring.