INDIAN CORN 199 



the latter receive the pollen from the former, thus fertil- 

 izing the ovules and causing the development of the 

 kernels. The young plant is furnished with two sorts 

 of roots, the regular feeding roots that grow from the 

 sprouting kernel and the adventitious roots that grow 

 from the stalk a Httle above ground and serve as brace 

 roots in helping to keep the stalks erect as well as feeding 

 roots. 



Two important types of field corn are grown — Flint 

 Corn and Dent Corn. Flint corn is most largely grown in 

 northern regions, while Dent corn is the prevailing type 

 in the Corn belt . Great improvements have been made 

 in recent years in perfecting strains and varieties of both 

 types, the total yield having been increased by millions 

 of bushels through careful breeding and selection of 

 seed. 



In commercial value Corn is the most important crop 

 grown in the United States. More than a hundred 

 millions of acres yielding more than two bilHon bushels 

 are planted yearly. The money value of the crop gen- 

 erally exceeds a billion dollars. More than twice as 

 many acres of corn are planted as of wheat, and about 

 four times as many bushels of corn are produced. 



Culture 



A deep, fertile, well-drained soil with an abundance 

 of humus and in good tilth is desirable for the growth of 

 corn. Sod land plowed the previous fall is especially 

 good, except that it renders greater the danger of injury 

 by white grubs, cutworms, and other grass-feeding 

 insects. The seed is planted as soon as the soil warms 

 up, so that it will germinate quickly and danger from 



