THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 297 



deep. In case a fertilizer is used, scatter it in the hill and 

 cover it with an inch of soil before planting the corn. A 

 row of radishes or spinach may be grown between the 

 corn rows. 



Culture. Cultivate after every rain. The roots of corn 

 are near the surface, so do not hoe too deep around the 

 hill. Preserve a surface mulch. After the plants have 

 made a good start, thin to four strong plants in each 

 hill. A dressing of nitrate of soda or liquid manure will 

 cause a strong growth. Rake in the nitrate of soda 

 around the hill, but do not let it touch the plants. 



Pop corn. The directions for growing pop corn are the 

 same as for sweet corn. 



Field corn. Field corn is usually planted in hills three 

 feet eight inches apart each way. Plant three grains in 

 a hill. It may be cultivated to a depth of four or five 

 inches while it is small. After it has grown to be 

 eighteen inches high, cultivation must be shallow to 

 avoid injuring the network of fine roots between the 

 rows. A dust mulch should be kept on the surface. 



Diseases. If dark masses of fungous growth, called 

 smut, make their appearance, collect and burn them. 

 Do not fertilize the land with manure from cattle which 

 have been fed with corn infested with smut. If the seed 

 is taken from a field which contains smut, soak it for 

 one hour in a solution of one ounce of formalin to two 

 gallons of water. 



Pests. Use poisoned bait for cutworms. Rotate the 

 crop for the many other pests that attack corn. 



