94 FOKAOE CROPS 



TEOSINTE (Fig. 15) 



This plant is similar in general habit to millet, 

 but differs in its tendency to stool. It belongs to a 

 wholly different species {EiicMcBna^ or Beana, luxu- 

 rlans) from the other crops discussed in this chap- 

 ter, but it is so much like millet in its cultural 

 requirements and in its uses that it vasiy be dis- 

 cussed with them. By some it is suggested as the 

 original of Indian corn. A single plant of teosinte 

 will branch and make a very large number of dif- 

 ferent plants. So far as plant -food is concerned, 

 teosinte makes the same requirements as the other 

 very rapid-growing summer plants. Teosinte 

 should be planted in rows about three feet apart, 

 and tilled. Three pounds of seed per acre is suffi- 

 cient. It is adapted only to the far South. 



Yields as high as twenty -four tons per acre have 

 been secured, although, because of the low content 

 of dry m.atter, the yield of actual nutriment is verj^ 

 much less than from ten tons of corn. 



