168 



AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



EXERCISE 



Let the pupils secure several heads of wheat and thresh each 

 separately by hand. The grains should then be counted and their 

 plumpness and size observed. The practical importance of this is 

 obvious, for the larger the heads and the 

 greater the number of grains, the larger 

 the yield per acre. Let them plant some 

 of the large and some of the small grains. 

 A single test of this kind will show the 

 importance of careful seed selection. 



SECTION XXXV CORN 



When the white man came to this 

 country, he found the Indian using 

 corn; for this reason it, in addition to 

 its name maize, is called Indian corn. 

 Before that time the civilized world 

 did not know that there was such a crop. The 

 increase in the yield and the extension of the 

 acres planted in this strictly American crop have 

 kept pace with the rapid and wonderful growth 

 of our country. Corn is king of the cereals, and the most 



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