132 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



The botanical name of teosinte is Euchlaena mexicana 



Schrad. 



CORN 



Indian corn or maize is primarily grown for the grain 

 but a considerable amount is used for forage, either 

 directly as a soiling crop or incidentally as corn fodder. 

 Throughout the corn-growing region a large amount of 

 green corn is cut and fed to stock upon the farm. Usu- 

 ally this is taken from fields sown for grain-production. 

 Sometimes the seed is sown thickly and the resulting 

 growth, being thin-stalked, is cut with a mower and made 

 into hay. 



A large amount of coarse forage is obtained from corn 

 fodder or corn stover. This is a by-product from the 

 corn grown primarily for grain. The corn is cut when 

 it is nearing maturity but before the leaves have lost 

 their nutritive qualities, when the grain is past the milk 

 and is beginning to harden. At this stage is produced 

 the maximum of the combination of grain and forage. 

 The cut stalks are placed in shocks where they are 

 allowed to remain until cured. The corn is then husked 

 out and the fodder stored for use in winter. Or the 

 dried stalks with the ears are run through a machine 

 which husks the ears and shreds the fodder. 



Another important forage use of corn is that of silage, 

 taking the lead among plants used for this purpose. 



The botanical name of corn is Zea mays L. The origin 

 of corn is uncertain as it is not now found in the wild 

 state. It originated somewhere in America between 

 Mexico and Bolivia, and was cultivated by the aborigines 

 from Brazil to New England before the discovery of 



