Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-05-26
MUST CULTIVATE
 YOUR CORN FIELD
Good Cultivation Depends Upon Samc
 Principle For Its Effectiveness.
By l.. w. Osborn. Agronomist College
 of Agriculture, Fayetteville.

ly cultivated. Cultivation practices vary in different localities depending upon the character of the soil, habits of weeds to combat, and upon labor conditions However, good cultivation depends upon the same general prin- ciples for it's effectiveness. Exper- fence of farmers everywhere has shown the value of cultivation in making corn crops.
 The most important object of cul- tivation is to get rid of weeds. Weeds compete with the corn plant for both plant food and moisture and practical ly no grain will be obtained if these are not removed. Experiment sta tions have shown that the elimination of weeds is the biggest reason for cultivation. Aside from this. cultivd- tion is important to conserve moisture and to aerate the soil and make plant food available.
 When young corn plants are getting started, cultivation is necessary to loosen up the surface on tightly pack ed soils and to pulverize the surface on clayey soils, which tend to crack This reduces tho amount of surface evaporation and therefore conserVes moisture. At the same time a culti vated soil is warm and more favorable to early growth of the young corn plants.
 Depth of Cultivation Important.
 The depth of cultivation will natur- ally depend upon the character of the root system of the corn plant. The roots of the corn plant extend down. ward and laterally and within month are estimated to have a lateral expansion of two feet and in two months the spread has d radius of about four feet. The depth of the roots below the surface depends upon the moisture conditions. In wet season and late in the season when the ground is shaded the roots are al most at the surface but ordinarily in the growing season they are estimat' ed to be at about three to four inches below the surface in the mid dle of the row and somewhat closer to the surface nearer the corn plant Shallow or surface cultivations two or three inches in depth, may be made effective in keeping down weeds and do no appreciable harm to the roots of the corn plant. Deep cultivation is practicable only when the weeds have made such start that no other course is possible to get rid of them.
 How and When To Cultivate.
 The best time to begin cultivation Is before the crop is planted. This can be done by carefully disking and narrowing we'll broken seed ted. If the surface does not become too badly used to excSllent advantage just be- fore the corn comes up, and again af ter the first two leaves are above ground. Such cultivation is economi cal since one covers the ground rapid ly. The regular cultivations with the corn cultivator should begin when the plant is about six inches high or earlier when the use of harrow has been impracticable When the ground is packed it is practicable to cultivate the young plants fairly deeply with out harm, but this is unnecessary prepared. All later cultivations should be shallow. The corn field should be cultivated frequently enough to make certain that weeds do not get a start. It Is a good plan to figure on cultivat- ing once every ten days until tho corn is waist high, or once after every packing rain.
 There are many types of cultivators which can be used to good advantage II properly adjusted. Cultivators with three or four small shovels to each gang are to be preferred to large shovel cultivators which have a ten dency to go too deeply. Sweeps nf the buzzard wing type. gopher blades correctly set, or spring-tooth attach ments are very satisfactory when ad- justed so as to cut the weeds off one to one and half inches below the surface.
 After the corn gets too high for the two-horse cultivator the one-horse Gee Whiz" of the springtooth type is excellent. Care should be taken to make certain that none of the teeth are penetrating too deeply, especially near the corn plants.
 When To lay-8y.
 The question of when to lay-by corn is always important and will depend upon the character of soil and the sea. son. On good soils where weeds are kept fairly we'll under control it fs questionable whether cultivation giv- en after the corn is waist-hish is of much value. On ordinary soils when the moisture supply is determining factor it is ordinarily best to continue cultivation until the corn is taselling RAISE SUBSTITUTES FOR WHEAT
 FOR HOME CONSUMPTION.
 Grow plenty of corn and potatoes and provide peas, beans and other