FARM CROPS. 



93 



which we use for so 

 many purposes. The 

 corn plant in the United 

 States is an annual, the 

 weight of seed about 

 equals the weight of the 

 stalk with leaves and 

 husks attached, and it 

 requires from 50 to 

 140 days of growth to 

 mature the plant. 



EXERCISE. What is the 

 average rainfall and tem- 

 perature for the growing 

 season in your section? 

 What is the average yield 

 of corn in your locality? 

 How does this yield com- 

 pare with the average for the 

 United States? Bring some 

 corns of different types to 

 the classroom and make a 

 study of the kernels as de- 

 scribed in this article. Ex- 

 amine the corneous endo- 

 sperm and starchy endo- 

 sperm of kernels of different 

 types. 



SECTION XVIII. 

 METHODS OF CUL- 

 TURE OF CORN. 



Germination of the 

 Seed. The conditions 

 for germination are: 

 (i) vitality, (2) heat, 

 (3) moisture, (4) 

 oxygen or air. With- 

 out vitality seed corn 

 will not grow. It is in- 

 jured by cold weather, 

 extreme wet weather, 



BARREN AND PRODUCTIVE CORN STALKS. 



