Rookie question: What is a lister?

For those of you who know, humor a kid and answer. :>)

What is a lister? What does it do? Why do you want to do that? What crops would you use it for?

Thank you.

Christopher

In arid regions across the plains, the ground was ridged ahead of the planter units, seed then was placed down in the "trench" as this was where any rainwater would collect and thus aid the growth of the corn.

That "ridge" also would keep the soil from blowing and would protect the small plant from the wind.

When the corn was about 8" to a foot tall, a double-winged middle buster or "corn plow" was used to then throw that ridge both directions back out against the corn rows as the first cultivation or "lay by".

Allan

It looked much like this drawing, but was all iron... no wooden "backbone".

Link