CHAPTER V 

 CULTIVATED CROPS 



CORN 



GENERAL FEATUBES OF THE CORN CROP 



Com is an odd but true grass like timothy or wlieat. 

 It is native to America and was imported into Europ)6 by 

 Columbus who found it cultivated by the Indians when 

 he discovered this continent. It is adapted to temperate 

 zones but may be acclimated to the northern regions of 

 the United States. It is grown most in the United States, 

 Austria-Hungary, Argentine, Russia, Egypt and Australasia. 



Importance. — Corn is more widely cultivated, yields 

 a larger crop than any of the other cereals, and its total 

 value is greater than that of any other crop grown in this 

 country. In 1914 the United States produced it^ largest 

 crop--2,672,804,000 bushels, valued at $1,702,599,000. 

 The average acre yield was almost three bushels more 

 than in 1913. The average number of bushels produced 

 in the world for the years 1905-1909 was 3,585,418,600, of 

 which 76% was produced in the United States. The average 

 acre value of corn in the United States is $12.53. The value 

 of the grain alone in this country is greater than that of any 

 other two farm crops produced and greater than that of the 

 wheat, oat, barley, flax, rye and tobacco crops combined. 

 The grain is used in different forms as food for both man and 

 beast, while its many manufactured and by-producte have 

 extensive uses. The fodder is also made to serve in imrious 

 ways as food for stock. 



Yield of Com. — Average yields of corn in eTe» the 

 best corn-growing states of the Union are very low, much 

 lower in fact than yields secured by the best farmers. It 

 is well worth the time of any one interested in farming to 

 know the methods practiced by the best farmers, that 

 the maximum yields at the least possible expense of lasbor 

 aaad fertility may be secured. 



