Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-05-27
Don't Harrow Corn Ground.

The practice of narrowing corn
ground between planting time and the
period when corn cultivators are put
into the fields is very common one.
During the last few years even our
experiment station workers have freely
advocated this method of surface cul-
tivation. We have heard this practice
advocated from the Institute platform
in almost every state of the corn belt,
and yet after years of experience along
this line we have come to the conclu.
sion that the harrow in corn field after
planting time frequently works more
harm than good to the crop.
Why should we spend our time in
testing our seed corn, as we'll as our
planters, in order that we may get a
full stand, if in turn we put our har.
row into the corn field and tear out
many of the young plants? Of course
those who harrow it freely will say that
much more good than harm will be ac.
complished even though few plants are
sacrificed, the good accomplished being
due to the fact that an ideal mulch is
formed on the surface. while weeds are
destroyed early in their career. These
are arguments that have some force, we
will admit and yet we believe that the
day is coming when the practice of har-
rowing corn fields after planting will
be discontinued. OF course, it may be
practicable to do little narrowing be-
tween the time when corn is planted
and when the plants make their appear
ance above tho surface. In this case
weeds are destroyed before they have
taken strong root, while very few ker-
nels will be displaced by the harrow
teeth. However, just as soon as the
plants are large enough to be torn out
by the harrow teeth we believe that
after this time the corn cultivators or
plows should be put in the field. The
argument may be brought for ward that
it is not always possible to start the
cultivators when the corn is just COM
ing through the ground, as there is con-
siderable danger of covering up mum.
Der of young plants. While this is
true, yet the character of the modern
corn plow is such as to admit of its use
when the plants are exceedingly small.
We have known a number of instances
where the cultivators were started even
before the plants made their appearance,
the mark of the planter shoe being the
only guide for the driver. This meth
cd we believe will result in bringing lar
ger crops than if the old-fashioned
method of narrowing is practised. By
all means endeavor to keep ahead of
the weeds, but at the same time pre-
serve, if possible, every corn plant that
makes its appearance.
One reason why the average yield of
corn in the central West ia not larger is
that growers have not come to the full
I0dllAdtlOu VI Iuc AupOItduCo VI udNAuS
perfect stand. That this is one of the
principal weaknesses of our whole corn
growing system is indicated by investi-
cations made by our stations. Many
fields were counted last year chat prov.
ed to have less than so per cent of q
perfect stand, and yet the grower in
many of these cases thought he planted
good seed. We again repeat that if the
harrow is used at all after the corn is
planted it should be before the plants
have made their appearance above
ground, because after this period the
corn plow if properly used will contrib.
ute to a larger yield Of corn.