The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-07-09
The FurrOW
Neq0s and V1e7vs About fbe Farm

Strange as it may sound, deep
planting of seed, such as corn, does
not make the root system deeper ex
cept in rare instances. Most plants
really have two root systems; those
which sprout first from the seed ke1.
mel, the depth of which is controlled,
of course, by the depth of the plant
ing.
These primary roots come out as
the plant pokes its way through the
soil, but they seldom last more than
a couple of weeks; usually they rot
with the seed kernel. Before this
takes place, however, the second or
permanent system of roots has start
ed, about an inch below the surface
of the ground, in the case of loan CT
clay soils.
In other words, no matter how deep
you plant the seeds of most plants
the permanent roots are going to come
out at virtually the same depth. The
important point to this fact is tba,
planting below the level of the per
manent root system contributes yir-
tually nothing to the sturdiness of the
plant, and only adds to the length OF
time required for the seedlings to poke
! their heads through the soil.
Shallow Planting Big Aid
Corn offers a splendid opportunity
to study the development of roots in
relation to the depth of planting All
other things being equal, if you plant
the seeds six inches deep the main
roots will not be any deeper than j
you started the seed one inch deep
But the seeds planted one inch deer
will sprout way ahead of the si,.
earlier crop. The disadvantage o1
deep planting is that it takes so long
for the seeds to get started. The
warmth of the sun does not reach
them as it does with shallow planting
This is particularly true in cold, we
weather.
Corn seed should be planted JUS
deep enough for the kernels to receive
sufficient moisture to sprout. OF
light, sandy soil this condition may
be two or three inches deep. Oh
heavier loamy soil, with average rain
fall, one inch planting is correc+
Another important consideration il
the development of roots is that few
giants can compete with weeds. TIL
latter must be kept in subsection b.
means of cultivation. Otherwise tn
weeds will rob the plant roots o
moisture and food. Avoid deep cult
walton close to the plants; you ar
likely to injure the roots. Stirring tn
surface soil is sufficient, provided
is done at the right time.
Alfalfa Needs Fertility to Start
1t is true that alfalfa will do nue.
better on poor soils than most crop.
and that alfalfa will gradually enric,
the soils with nitrogen, but a goo
stand of alfalfa cannot be expecte
without some manuring of first season
The young plants require an abund
ance of food for their growth, whicl
they must obtain from the soil unit
they are big enough to secure it iron
the air, as in the case of older plants
whose roots are inoculated with nitro
gen-fxing bacteria.
The lesson to be drawn here i
that while alfalfa is a panacea for ILL
poverished land, it requires a certaii
amount of fertility to start the crop.
AS with alfalfa, soy beans and COW
peas will yield bigger crops if the sol
or seed is inoculated. And the crop:
which follow the inoculated bean
or peas will be much improved, also
Unless the home garden is OF fai
size it will not pay to raise sWee'