Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-08
RRlaeANY oBJGcrs Or
CONN CULTIVATION %
70 RETAIN MOISTURE

Corn should be cultivated only when
one or moro objects will be accom-
pHshed by the cultivation and when
tho total effects VIII be moro bensn-
cial than injurious. according to Unit
"a 0tAtss department q. AGRICULTURE.
Aons bsasnslal s6ssts arc a. pre-
vsating wssdD from robbing the corr
a soil moisture and fertility; az put
t1AS ~ surface In condition to take
In rainfall. thus preventing run OF
End srosaon-lossss Of water and soil
fertility, % warming the soil By dry
ing IL surface quickly: and ~ saving
moisture BY checking it, capillary rise
to the sou surface.
Some injurious effects are az break
use some Of the moisture OF light
forming large clods and holes. Thus
permitting dry air to enter and dry the
sol.
In droushty regions corn cultivation
- more essential and requires more
good Judgment than In most other ssc-
nons.
The primary obiset Of cultivation u
to prevent loss o. moisture. Moisture
lossso ass caused By Sun-s6. evapora-
tioo. ana. MOST Of an wssd growth. A
most important object Of corn eultiya-
ton y the keeping out Of weeds. II
takes but little stirring OF the son 20
kill weeds Immediately after they ger
inmate and before they have used
much soil moisture but to destroy
weeds that are well rooted the soil
must be worked deeply and thorough-
ly. This requires. much labor and can
not be accomplished without breaking
and destroying many corn roots. In
many sections. or In seasons when the
seed terminates slowly. it v advisable
to harrow once or twice or to cultivate
after planting before the corn comes
up.
Deep civilizations should never be
done close TO the plants after they arc
Q foot tall, ~ much harm would be
done by breaking the corn roots.
Aside from destroying weeds timely
cultivation Is Sonofioil; u rsee-===:.....!!::s
the loss Of moisture BY evaporation
and also in Fastening the wsrming Of
the soil. The loss OF soil moisture by
evaporation continues much longer
from . compact damp surface than
from . loose. dry surface, and tho
evaporation tends to keep the soil cold.
In northern localities and 1t high IL
titudes the conservation of heat Is fire.
Quently ~ important ~ the conserva-
ton Of moisture. Luckily. both hest
and moisture may be conserved by
good timely cultivation. Heat 10 vast
ed in evaporating or wasting soil moIs-
turs. Making the surface loose and
dry saves both soil heat and soil mois-
ture.
Cultivatins after heavy rains 10 Z
good practice. To be most effective
the cultivation should DO done % soon
as the surface y dry enough to work
we'll II the soil Is allowed to dry until
it breaks up cloddy, much moisture
viii be lost. = good mulch can not bs
obtained. and harm II more likely u
be done to the corn roots. As long ID
rapid evaporation 10 taking place, the
surface viii remain cold and the
growth Of the corn will be slow. In
order to cover large areas quickly, cni-
tivators which work two Or more rows
are great advantage.
The number Of CIVILIZATIONS necessary
and the best time Tor them depend
upon weather and soil conditions.
Weeds should not be allowed to grow;
a mellow surface should b. maintained.
In some seasons It may be enectual-
ly accomplished with one or two cult
vations; in other seasons from four to
six civilizations may be necessary.