6 KITCHEN-GARDENING. 



hill. This, with attentive hoeing, will cause it to produce ears 

 early. Deep digging or ploughing between the hills is very 

 beneficial when the corn is about eighteen inches high. 



There is danger of planting Indian Corn too early, as the 

 kernels will rot before they germinate, when the ground is wet 

 and cold. Then, if the weather be so cold after the corn has 

 come up, that it cannot grow, the young plants receive a stunt 

 from which they never recover. The locality must always be 

 the guide respecting^the time to plant Indian Corn. 



My advice has always been to young gardeners, not to plant 

 Indian Corn too early. Wait till the soil is warm, and the 

 growing season well advanced, before planting any kind of 

 corn. Work at the ground where Indian Corn is to be 

 planted ; and get it in an excellent condition, thoroughly pul- 

 verized, drained, if necessary, and manured bountifully; then 

 when all the trees are in full-leaf, and apple-trees begin to cast 

 their blossoms, put in the seed, and the young corn will often 

 appear in five days. I have known corn planted dry, in my 

 own garden, to come up in four days, when the soil was warm ; 

 and I have often waited over two weeks for good seed to vege- 

 tate ; and even after so long a time, the blades did not appear. 

 Indian Corn must have dry and rich ground, and warm 

 weather, or it will not produce large ears. 



In order to have a succession of " roasting ears," or green 

 corn, my practice is to prepare the ground for several rows, 

 side by side. Then two weeks after the first row was planted, 

 put in the seed for another row, and so to the middle of sum- 

 mer. In this way, one may have green corn for a long time. 



Indian Corn will mix when different varieties are planted in 

 such close proximity that the pollen from the tassels will be 

 carried to the silken cords, one of which proceeds from the 

 root of every kernel to the end of the growing ear. If varie- 

 ties are permitted to mix, they soon lose their identity. The 

 product may be quite as good, and perhaps better, than the 

 variety planted ; and it may not be so excellent. 



To prevent any and all varieties from hybridizing, cut off 



