The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-03-28

where good culture was given so as to control the
growth of weeds, a maximum yield was obtained,
and where the weeds were controlled by a mulch,
a fair yield resulted which would have been in
creased had the soil been warmed and nourished
by tillage and sunlight.
Shallow or Deep Cultivation.
A soil is improved by growing corn because it
permits during a period of several months the use
of the cultivator so as to stir the soil. This in a
way comes in close connection with what was said
in the beginning of this article. Stirring the soil
increases the available plant food by causing a
freer circulation of air and by bringing the soil
particles into different relations with each other.
1t also loosens up the soil so that the roots may
penetrate more readily. The point now comes
up: Since the weeds must be killed and the soil
stirred up, how deep shall we cultivate?
Investigation by our Experiment Stations has
not been lacking in regard to this. Fifty-six
tests have been made with positive results in
favor of shallow cultivation. The question bitches
ON the running of the roots. Professor Hunt. at
the Illinois Station during three years trial,
found that nearly three-fourths of the roots of
corn grew between two and four inches below the
surface of the ground. It is evident what effect
deep cultivation would have on the roots and the
root system if corn were cultivated more than
four inches below the surface of the soil. The
following experiment by the writer throws fur
Their light on this question:
Kind of Culture. Lbs. Slower. Bus. shTd
Corn peracre.
Shallow-14 times =. 1905 500
Shallow times. II 1876 79.1
Deep|5 times......... 1874 69.7
From the above we see that deep cultivation was
less productive than shallow, and also that ordi-
nary or five shallow civilizations were as ef-
fective as frequent, the difference in nowise
meeting the extra expense of labor.
Practical Deductions.
Pillow the soil as deep as it's character will
permit. A shallow impoverished soil cannot be
plowed as deep as a deep fertile one. A good
seed-bed is necessary, and the deeper the blowing,
when the soil permits, the better the preparation
for planting. If the soil is shallow, gradually
deepen it by subsequent plowings. By going an
inch deeper, for instance, each blowing the soil
can be deepened, improved and enriched. If the
whole OF the deepening process is attempted at
one time in a shallow soil it will be ruined for
some time and the crop lessened for the first sea
son at least. After a depth for blowing has
once been established, vary it slightly from time
to time; otherwise a layer at the bottom of the
furrow will be formed of compacted and hard
soil, due to steps of horse and man.
2.-Destroy the weeds. This necessitates cW-
~tivation which should be done as often as neceS,
sary to keep out the weeds. The harrow, if used
a few days after planting time and again after the
corn is up, will do much to keep back the weeds,
when the weeder and cultivator- can follow to
destroy the grass and weeds. Where a soil IS
badly infested with weeds. plant corn in hills and
rows so as to be able to cultivate both ways.
3.-Cultivate the soil. This is done not only te
kill weeds, but also because tillage is manure:
The stirring of the soil is one of the means ct
changing unavailable plant food into the avail
able form. Cultivation also makes a mulch of the
fine and dry soil that contributes IN q daOrpp to
conserve the moisture in the soil.
G. W. BURKETT.