The Prescott daily news., 1915-06-22
LAYING BY THE CORN.

We believe, and have proven in our own experience, that the cultivation of corn ought. ordinarily, to be con tinued until the corn is in full silk and tassel.
 The reason for this, when we begin to investigate, is perfectly plain: The corn needs plant food and moisture until 1t IS fully matured; and unless the moisture supply is conserved by cultivation it will give out before the crop natures if the weather is dry and hot as it usually is at this season of the year. The effect of the right kind of cultivation in conserving soil mois- ture is now so well understood that we consider argument altogether super fiuous.
 But this late cultivation must be of the right kind-it is better not to cul- tivate at all than to cultivate as some people do. A great many corn raisers lay by with a turning blow, throwing a big list up to the corn. This is gen erally done for one of two reasons, or | for both: First, to brace the corn against the wind and thus prevent it from blowing down in stormy weather. Second, to cover up a rank growth of weeds and grass which has developed in the corn row while everything else was being neglected to cultivate the cotton.
 But, laying by corn with a turning blow for either of these reasons or any other is nearly always a serious and expensive mistake. It is the prin- cipal reason for the necessity of buy ing corn every year in the cases of thousands of Southern farmers. Some times, it is true, when the laying by is immediately followed by good rain no evil effects are noticed from this turning blow work; but, when rain fails to come at the opportune time as it often does-the distressing ef- fleets of this tearing up of the corn roots and exposing them to blazing glare of the sun soon becomes evident in the willing, burning and utter ruin of the corn.
 As matter of fact, this ridging up with a turning blow does but little good towards fortifying the corn against wind; and even this little is much more than offset by the damage to the roots of the corn. It is also fact that this attempt to cover up a big mass of weeds and grass with a turning blow is nearly always a dismal failure, and about the only thing ac- complished is a thorough baking and drying of the corn roots through their exposure to the hot sun. The grass would do far less damage than the deep blowing.
 The writer's method of raising corn is to do all his deep cultivating early; to continue cultivation until he corn is in full silk and tassel: and through out the latter part of the working period to merely scratch the surface of the ground. If we cannot cut the grass out with a hoe we let it remain-we never use a turning blow on it.
 For this late cultivation of the corn and for laying, by we have found a bread, flat heel sweep a very desir able implement. It the ground is loose we use the sweep without blow in front; and if, on account of the land being a little tight, it is necessary to use a blow, We employ short, blunt scooter or bull tongue, that will not penetrate the ground deeply enough to disturb the corn roots. The idea to be kept in mind is that the cultiva tion at this time is merely for the purpose of mulching, of breaking up the pores of the ground and preventing the escape of moisture. With this idea in mind it will be seen that sweep, a harrow, or even drag, will be suitable for laying by.
 The general suggestions offered here apply almost as well to most of the other crops of the farm.
 l.. A. MARKHAM,
 Extension Agent P. & N. w. Ky.
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