CHAPTER VII. 

 The Corn Crop in the United States. 



If he who made two blades of grass grow where only one grew 

 before is a public benefactor, then he who reduces the fertility of the 

 soil so that only one ear of corn grows where two have been grown 

 before is a public curse. Cyril G. Hopkins. 



"More corn of better quality on every acre of ground" is the motto 

 of every corn-grower in Iowa. Let us each strive to grow more and 

 better corn this year than we did last. This is the secret of success. 

 This will make us love our work. Drudgery is work without thought, 

 without interest, without love for it. "The man who can make two ears 

 of corn, or two blades of grass, grow on the spot where only one grew 

 before, would deserve better of mankind and render more essential 

 service to the country than the whole race of politicians put together." 

 P. G. Holden. 



Outlines for Corn Study. 



Corn is one of our country's great farm crops. There is 

 no other crop that affords a greater or better opportunity for 

 study, and for the improvement of our agricultural conditions. 

 . Corn offers many lessons and advantages for study to the 

 class in agriculture, because it responds so quickly to the in- 

 fluences of careful and painstaking efforts in breeding. 



The student should make use of the corn plant in connection 

 with the use of the text book or government bulletins. 



There should be a collection of the six different varieties of 

 corn, pod corn, soft corn, pop corn, sweet corn, flint corn and 

 dent corn. 



The solution of the corn problem depends upon an intelligent 

 study of this plant with relation to some of the following points : 



1. Study the history of corn, and its influence on the development of 

 the United States. 



2. Make a collection of different types, and learn names. 



3. Secure a specimen of an excellent corn plant. 



4. Begin the study by making a drawing of a. complete plant. 



5. Examine the different parts of the stalk and ear, and learn names. 



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