ORN is the leading crop in the United States, being
grown in every State in the Union on a total
of nearly 100 million acres.
Because of its wide distribution it is impossible to
give detailed instructions for growing a corn crop
successfully Certain general principles, however,
can be laid down which will assist the individual to
use methods that are suited to the immediate local
conditions.
Varietal names of corn mean little. The important
thing in choosing seed corn is to know that the particular
strain has yielded well in the locality and
that the seed has been handled so as to retain its full
vigor and productiveness.
Corn grows best on fertile, well-drained, loamy
soils. On poor soils plant growth may use most of
the available nutrients, leaving little for the production
of grain. To attempt corn growing on unproductive
soils is to invite low yields with no profit.
Soils can be improved by suitable crop rotation,
the growing of legumes, and the plowing under of
green or barnyard manures. These practices, with
the supplemental use of commercial fertilizers to
supply special needs, can be relied upon to increase
acre yields.
Land for corn should not be plowed when it is too
wet, should not be plowed and left when excessive
soil washing or blowing will result, and should be
plowed thoroughly and deep enough to cover trash
and vegetation. Thorough final preparation of the
seed bed is important, both in promoting profitable
yields and in reducing the cost of cultivation.
The principal object in cultivating corn is to control
weeds. Cultivation sometimes has other advantages,
but these will be provided automatically by
cultivation adequate for weed control. Cultivation
should be as shallow and infrequent as will control
weeds. Additional cultivation is a waste.
This bulletin supersedes Farmers' Bulletin 414, Corn
Cultivation.
Washington, D.C. November 1933

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