Rural School Leaflet 



791 



HOW TO GROW CORN 



E. R. Minns 



Preparation. — Select some good ears of a variety of com 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 prize-winning crop of corn should be chosen 

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

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

 scattered on it during 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, to make the first three 

 inches of soil fine and level. 



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

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

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

 some time in the month of May or in early June. 



Make furrows across the corn plat in its longest direction, if that will 

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

 furrows will be wide enough. If a furrow marker drawn by horses or 

 pushed by hand can be used, it will save time. Furrows may be made 

 by stretching a stout string between two stakes placed at opposite ends 

 of the plat and drawing a hoe beside it through the soil, so that the corner 

 of the hoe makes the bottom of the furrow. The stakes have to be reset 

 for each furrow. 



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

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

 tance apart for small varieties, especially sweet corn and popcorn. Cover 

 each hill with fine mellow soil so that the kernels lie buried about one- 

 and one-half inches below the surface. 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 com kernels and make them sprout faster. 



If a hand planter can be found that will drop the five kernels in each 

 hill, it will save time to use it; but one should be careful to see that enough 

 loose soil falls in on 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 planter are withdrawn from the soil.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 managed by any young corn- 

 grower it will save furrow-making before planting and will leave the 

 rows in better condition for cultivation. 



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

 pf the soil, the plat should be harrowed lightly or stirred with a weeder. 



