The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-26
CORN GROWING.
Getting Moisture in the Soil for Good
Corn Yields-Preparing the
Land for Planting.

Corn gets what it takes from the
soil in liquid form, therefore there
must be moisture to spare. The ac-
tual number of inches of rainfall ona
given field, however, is not alone q
safe guide, especially in droughy re-
gions, as much depends on the amount
Of water that is stored at different
seasons; the amount that is wasted in
running off, evaporation or seepage;
and, finally, the amount actually made
available to the root system of the
corn. 1t has been estimated that a
rainfall of ten inches will be sufficient
to produce a yield of so bushels per
acre, provided none of it escaped ex-
cept through the plants. Even weeds,
however, cannot take every bit of
moisture and it is impossible under
field conditions to prevent losses.
Corn specialists of the bureau Of
plant industry, United States Depart.
ment of Agriculture, Farmers Bulles
tin 773, therefore, caution corn graw
ers in droughty regions (1) to plan
their cultural operations so as to have
the soil in the best condition to take
in water when rains are most likely
to occur; (2) so to handle the soil that
deep penetration may be secured; and
(3) so to cultivate the soil as to store
up heat and at the same time prevent
excessive loss of soil water through
capillary action and surface evapo-
ration.
The ease with which soils take in,
retain or loose moisture depends most
ly on their texture, physical condition
and surface slope, they point out. 1t
lis to this extent that cultivation can
modify these factors that more water
can be made available to the growing
crop.
There are loose open soils through
which water pours as through sieve
and there are tight gumbo soils which
swell when the surface is moistened
and become practically waterproof
Sandy soils take in water more read
lily than heavy soils; hence, less pre-
caution is necessary to prevent run
off.
The greatest loss may be from the
low erdepths beyond the plant roots
Manure and decaying vegetable mat
ter check seepage and improve soils
of this character. AS corn roots pen
citrate 3 to even 6 feet deep, larger
yields of corn are frequently raised on
sandy soils in semi-arid regions than
on surrounding hard soils.
The heavy, hard, or close-textured
soils require the most cultivation to
keep them in proper condition so as to
prevent moisture loss from run-off and
evaporation. Unless the entire sur
face is kept broken or somewhat rough
but little water will be absorbed dur
ing hard rains and greater loss will
occur from evaporation. To maintain
the surface soil in proper condition,
cultivation is necessary soon after
heavy rains. If cultivation is too fire.
quent, however, so that the surface
becomes too fine, moisture cannot pen
citrate readily and blowing the soil is
likely to occur.
1t is of great Importance that moist
ure be made to penetrate several feet
below the surface. In most soils this
penetration is slow, and during hot,
dry weather surface evaporation is
great. Surface moisture cannot pen
citrate frozen soil. Summer and
fall penetration has time to penetrate
several feet deep and be in a position
to support a growing crop next sum
mer. While it is seldom advisable to
waste whole summer instoring
moisture for corn crop for the next
year, it is advisable to begin storing
soil moisture as soon as the preceding
crop win permit it. The ideal seed
bed for good corn crop in semi-arid
regions is one with a loose, coarse
surface and sub-soil well filled with
moisture to a depth of seYral feen.