1568 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



size and very choice kernels, and, owin^ to its earliness, the j^rower is 

 practically assured of o]:)taining a crop. Stowell's Evergreen, whicli bears 

 very large ears and white kernels of high quality, is the standard late 

 corn for canning purposes. However, in the last two or three years, 

 owing to the early frosts in the fall and the length of season required 

 to mature this variety, it has proved a failure in this State. Country 

 Gentleman is a good type if shoe-peg kernels are desired, for the ears are 

 fairly large and the kernels are deep and placed irregularly on the cob. 

 Where the length of the growing season must be considered, it is better 

 to plant the early rather than the late sorts for canning purposes. It is 

 well to take advantage of improved types of seed. 



Time and methods 0} planting. — Com should not be planted too early 

 in the spring, or, as a general rule, while there is danger of frost; the best 

 time is probably from May 15 to June i or even a little later in some 

 localities. By that time the soil should be warm. 



If the seed is to be planted by hand, the following method may be used: 

 After the rows have been marked out in some way, small holes should be 

 dug with a hoe where the hills are to be located. Fertilizer may be placed 

 in these holes, and, if so, it should be covered with a little soil before the 

 seed is dropped. After the seed is covered, the soil should be firmed over 

 it with the hoe or the foot. If man-power planters are used, fertilizer has 

 to be broadcasted. If the horse-power corn-planter is available, this may 

 be utilized. It plants the seeds and distributes the fertilizer at the same 

 time. It is sometimes advantageous to use the hand method of planting 

 corn, for then the patch may be marked out in rows running at right angles, 

 and the corn planted at the intersection of these rows. It is then possible 

 to cultivate on every side of a hill of com, and the amount of hand hoeing, 

 if indeed any is necessary, is decreased materially. If corn is to be culti- 

 vated by horse labor, the rows should be from thirty to forty-two inches 

 apart, and the so-called hills from eighteen to thirty-six inches apart in the 

 row. Five or six seeds should be planted in a hill, but the young plants 

 should be thinned so that only three strong stalks remain in each hill. 

 If the com is to be cultivated by hand labor, the rows may be somewhat 

 closer together, from eighteen to twenty-eight inches apart, but the hills 

 should be from eighteen to thirty-six inches apart in the row. In some 

 instances, com may be planted in rows and later thinned so that the 

 stalks are one foot apart. The seed should be planted not deeper than 

 one and one-half. inches, and one inch is even better. Some kind of marker 

 should be used to make the rows straight, or if the planting is a small one, 

 stakes and line may be used. 



Cidtivation. — Com should be given clean but shallow culture, for com 

 roots are relatively surface feeders. For this work a good horse-power 



