1058 Rural School Leaflet. 



HOW TO GROW CORN 

 E. R. Minns 



Preparation. — Select some good ears of a variety of corn that is known 

 to produce a large crop of ripe corn in your neighborhood. A few 

 kernels from each ear of seed corn should be tested to make sure that 

 they will sprout vigorously. 



The soil on which to grow a successful crop of com should be chosen 

 if possible from the most fertile part of the farm. Sod land which grew 

 a crop of clover last year, and which has had a coat of barnyard manure 

 scattered on it in the winter or early spring, is an ideal place to plant 

 corn. It should be carefully plowed early in the spring and harrowed 

 several times before the date for planting arrives, so that the first 

 three inches of soil will be fine and level. 



Planting. — It will not be best to plant corn before the weather is 

 warm enough for boys to go barefooted every day and all day long, 

 for corn needs warmth in the soil and air. We expect such weather 

 as corn needs some time in the month of May or early June. 



Make furrows across the com field in its longest direction, if that will 

 not hinder the work of cultivation. Three and a half feet between 

 furrows will be wide enough. The furrow marker drawn by one or 

 two horses will be found the best means of furrowing the rows. It 

 can also be used for check marking the field. 



Plant the corn in hills, five kernels in each hill. Make the hills three 

 and a half feet apart in the row for large-growing varieties, a less dis- 

 tance apart for small varieties, especially sweet com and pop com. 

 Cover each hill with a fine mellow soil so that the kernels lie buried 

 about one and a half inches below the surface. In stiff, clayey soils a 

 planting depth of one inch is better. If the soil is rather dry, pat the 

 surface lightly with the back of the hoe blade to bring the soil moisture 

 up around the buried corn kernels and make them sprout faster. 



Hand planters are made which will drop from two to five kernels in 

 each hill, and it will save time to use them ; but one should be careful 

 to see that enough loose soil falls in upon the corn to cover it well 

 after the open blades of the planter are withdrawn from the soil. 



If a horse-drawn com planter can be secured in the neighborhood, it 

 will save furrow-making before planting and if the field is level, will 

 leave the rows in better condition for cultivation. 



Cultivation. — To kill the sprouting weeds which lie near the surface 

 of the soil, the field should be harrowed lightly or stirred with a weeder. 



