The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-05-15
CULTIVATION
OF CORN SHOULD
BEGIN EARLY

Cultivation should not be delayed
IN the corn untn the field looks weedy.
onIv n little stirring of the soil is re-
cuired to kin weeds Immediately af-
tar thex gerrninate and before they
have used much son moisture, but to
DESTROY weeds that are well rooted, the
soil must be worked deeply and thor
oughiy. S6ch depA c1lt3patfon, spe-
cialists in the o. s. Department of
Agriculture say, not only means more
labor but 1t can not be accomplished
without breaking and destroying
many corn rootz.-
II corn land has been properly pre-
pared deep cultivation f. not adyis-
able. 1t .ssould never be done close
to theS iSl III i q = fl3ex are a foot
hfrf,. as "a c{f sfsfrm WOULD be done
by breaking the rOotz
To got an early start of the weeds,
in many sections or in seasons when
seed terminates slowly. It Is advisable
to harrow once or twice or otherwise
to cultivate the field ( before corn
comes up Limited moisture makes
thin stands necessary and it is poor
management to allow grass and weeks
to rob the corn of this moisture
Aside from destroying weeds. time
~ cultivation L. benficia1 in prevent
ing the loss Of moisture by evapora-
ton and also In Fastening the warm
ing Of the soil The loss Of soil mois-
ture by evaporation continues much
longer from a compact damp sur
lace than from a loose. dry surface.
and the evaporation tends to keep the
soil cold
In northern localities and at high
o1fitudes the conservation Of heat is
frequently as important as the conser-
walton OF moisture Luckily. both
heat and moisture may be conserved
by good timely cultivation Heat is
wasted In eTapcrafing or wasting sod
moisture Making the surface loose
ana dry raves both sol heat and soi1
moisture
Cu1tivating after heavy rains Is a
good practice. To DO most effective
the cu1tfyaxing should be done as
soon as the surface il dry enough to
work well II the son L. allowed to
dry until II breaks mp clcddy, much
moisture win be lost. a good mulch
can not be obtained, and harm is more
likely to be done to the corn roots As
long as rapid evaporation is taking
place. the surface WIN remain cold
and the growth OF the corn win be
slow. In order to cover large areas
quickly, cu1tivators which work two on
more rows are q great zad7antage
Ths numbey ~ s1ions neces-
sary and the beS time foT them de-
pend upon weather. ana soil condi-
tons Weeds should NOT. be allowed
TO grow, and q. mellow surface should
be maintained. In some seasons this
may be efrectuaIly accomplished with
one or two cu1tfvatfonx. In other sea.
sons from four to six cu1ttyatfons ma,
be nece4sary.
Nofhinx can be gained By, continu.
ing lcnIff nation In cornf1elds free from
weeds and in which the soil surface Is
mellow. When the surface is suffi.
cientiy Loose and dry to reduce evap.
Grafton. In open enough to proven,
run-off. and no weeds are starting, .
cultivation could do no good and 4
carelessfy performed would do inJur,
10 the corn.
Corn should be cultivated on1,
when one or more objects will be &C.
corn5ifshed by the cultivation anI
whex, the total effects win be NOR,
benenc4a1 than Injurious. The bene
ne1al effects OF cultivation are:
1-Preventfnz weeds from robbins
me corn of soil moisture and fertility
Putting the surface in condition
TO take I'm rainfall, thus preventing
run-oH ana, erosion. which mean los
sees OF water and soil fertility.
3EWarxning the soil by drying it
surface quickly,
@saying moisture by checking it