PLANTING 191 



Its ability to turn inside out when subjected to great heat is due 

 to the presence of volatile oil contained in the kernels. 



Varieties. A corn grower in any section should make a 

 careful study of the varieties grown there successfully. This will 

 enable him to determine which variety will produce the greatest 

 yield, the largest proportion of corn on the cob and the best seed 

 for future crops. It is not essential that variety or strain selected 

 should have a special name. 



It is usually not profitable to introduce new varieties from a 

 distance, but if this seems necessary, because there is no good 

 strain nearby, the new seed should be grown for a few years in a 

 seed plot under careful selection before it is used as the main field 

 crop. The best of it may be found to adapt itself to the local soil 

 and climat.e. 



The composition of the different types of .corn and their 

 products is given in the table with other grains for the sake of easy 

 comparison (see chapter on Small Grains). 



Preparation of Soil. In the extreme northern states the 

 ground to be used for corn should be plowed the preceding- 

 fall, particularly if the soil is heavy. Elsewhere, and on light 

 soils, early spring plowing may be practiced. In either case the 

 ground should be harrowed as early as possible and put into fine 

 tilth. The harrowing should be repeated as soon after each heavy 

 rain as it may be done safely. The warm spring air is thus allowed 

 to enter the soil and bacteria action is increased. Weeds will ger- 

 minate and the next harrowing will destroy the sprouts. If several 

 weeks elapse during this harrowing season the soil will be made 

 so warm as to cause the corn to germinate more readily, and much 

 of the weed seed will be entirely destroyed. This process also 

 conserves much of the soil moisture, allowing it to penetrate a 

 little deeper into the soil instead of evaporating. The crop will 

 suffer from drought much less because of the long and thorough 

 preparation of the soil before planting time. If the rains have 

 been very heavy, and the soil becomes too compact, it is some- 

 times advisable to disk the soil or stir it with a cultivator just be- 

 fore planting time. 



Planting. A common distance between rows is three feet 

 eight inches, but farther south, or when the growth is unusually 

 large, the distance may be four feet between rows. In the check- 

 row plan three stalks in a hill is very common, but slight varia- 

 tions are found for different varieties and for different purposes. 



