376 



CORN 



plete commercial fertilizer in each hill, and mix it well 

 with the soil before planting the Com. A fertilizer which 

 has a large amount of nitrogen in quickly availalile form 

 should be chosen for this purpose. Dwarf early maturing 

 Tarieties may be planted, for early use, as soon as the 

 ground is sufficiently dry and warm. A little later, when 

 the ground is warmer, the second early main crop and 



plants. 



Corn is not grown commercially as a forcipg crop. 

 Attempts to force it in winter have not given encourag- 

 ing results, but it may be successfully forced in spring, 

 following any of the crops of vegetables which are grown 

 under glass, providing the houses are piped so as to 

 maintain the night temperature at 65° P. Provide good 

 drainage. Give a liberal application of stable manure, 

 and thoroughly mix it with the soil. In the latitude of 

 New York the planting may be made as early as the 1st 

 of March. As soon as the first leaf has unfolded the 

 temperature may be allowed to run high in the sun, if 

 the air is kept moist by wetting the floors and walls. The 

 glass need not be shaded. Keep night temperature close 

 to 65° P., not lower and not much higher. After the silk 

 appears, jar the stalks every two or three days, when the 

 atmosphere is drj-, and thus insure abundant pollination. 

 Early maturing varieties, like Cory, give edible Com in 

 about 60 days when thus treated. Corn may be forced 

 In the same house with tomatoes, egg-plant, and other 

 vegetables which require similar range of temperature. 



VARIETIES. — Some of the desirable varieties for the 

 garden, the market and for canning are listed below. 

 These varieties are named for the pm-pnso of showing 

 the range of variation and of iiidifaiini: Hk- l-;uling 

 groups ortypes, not to recommend tins, |,;,rti.Ml:ir kinds. 

 New varieties are continually supplanrniL,^ ili<> "M. 



For the home j/ariJen. — Extra-early : Euilv 3Iarl)khfad 

 (Pig. 552), Burbank Early. Second Early : Crosby Early. 

 Main Crop: Large Eight -Rowed, Hiekox Improved, 

 Stowell Evergreen. Late : Black Mexican, Country 

 Gentleman. 



/"or mocfcef.— Extra-early: Earlyr,.ri, I'. ir\ Ihluiil; 

 Extra-early Adams, though not a s\\. - ■ il'. ly 



grown for early use. Second Eail - I nlv. 



Crosby Early; Early Adams is gi""" - in-i' ■ ly l..r 

 market, though not a sweet Com. Main ( r.ip and ijute : 

 Mammoth, Stowell Evergreep, Egyptian, Country 

 Gentleman. 



For canning. Sickox Improved, Crosliy Early, Potter 

 Excelsior, Country Gentleman, Egyptian, Old Colony, 

 Stowell Evergreen. 



Diseases and Pests. — The most widespread and de- 

 structive disease of Com in the United States is the 

 smut produced by the parasitic smut-fungus, Ustilago 

 Zea. The sorghum -head smut, Ustilago Heiliana, 

 also attacks Maize. Smut causes most injury when it 

 attacks the ears. The grains are transformed into a 

 mass of dark-colored smut spores, and become ex- 

 ceedingly swollen and distorted out of all semblance 

 to their normal outlines. Infection may take place at 

 any growing point of the plant from early till late in the 

 season, hence treatment of seed Com by fungicides is of 

 no value as a remedy for Corn smut. The destruction 

 of smutted parts of the plants, and taking especial care 

 that the smut does not become mixed with manure which 

 is used for the Corn crop, are measures which may be 

 expected to lessen the prevalence of the disease. No 

 remedy is known. 



The only other disease of Sweet Com which is known 

 to be of economic importance in the United States is the 

 bacterial blight caused by Pseudomonas Stewarti. It has 

 been found in New York, New Jersey and Michigan, but 

 thus far has been seriously destructive only on Long 

 Island on early dwarf varieties of Sweet Corn. It is char- 

 acterized by wilting and complete drying of the whole 

 plant, as if affected by drought, except that the leaves do 

 not roll up. The fibro-vascular bundles become distinctly 

 yellow, and are very noticeable when the stalk is cut 

 open. The disease attacks the plant at any period of 

 growth, but is most destructive about the time the silk 

 appears. No remedy is known. 



Over 200 species of insects are known to be injurious 

 to Com, either to some part of the growing plant or to 



CORNUS 



the stored product. The Com worm is also known south 

 as the cotton-boll worm. It is destraetive to Sweet Corn 

 especially, for it burrows into the ear anl f. , 1- .in ih.j 

 tender green Com, rendering the ear ni, a r 



at canneries or in market. Itisknownii u 



age as far north as western New York. I (,. i.. ,; i mi 



method of fighting this insect is the bn .li.ii.g ,,1 iLu 

 pupsB cells in the earth by shallow fall plowing, which, 

 at best, is but a partial remedy. Wire-worms, northern 

 corn-root worms, white gmbs, and certain other grass 

 insects attack ('()m plants. One of the best preventive 

 measnr. - i- tu plan the rotation .so that Corn does not 

 imni ahah :■, i.ll.m any cereal or grass crop. 



p..i. ( ■.ii.N , z- f . i; rta, Sturt.).- Characterized by the 

 ex<'(--ix,' |.r.,|M,i lii.n of the corneous endosperm, and 

 the small si/.' "I tip. kirnrls and ear. The kernel split 



laterally si,..\vs tl hit and .-omeous matter enveloping, 



and in s.ini.- .as. s a tin. , stan-hy line. The small size of 

 the k.i-n.l an. I tin- |.n.|,.-i I y .>f popping makes identifica- 

 tion certain. Tliis spccius-group extends throughout 

 North and South America, and has claims for prehis- 

 toric culture. 



The preparation of soil, planting, and tillage recom- 

 mended for Sweet Com apply equally well to Pop Com. 



y-arieties. -Sturtevant, in 1899, describes 25 varieties. 

 The following kinds are popular: 



Dwarf Golden. — Ear 1 to 3 inches long. An early -ma- 

 turing sort, with broad, golden yellow kemds. 



Rice, White Rice.- Ear 4 to 8 inches long. This vigor- 

 ous late variety is widely cultivated. This and other 

 Rice Corns are characterized by deep, tapering, beaked 



Pearl. — Ear 4 to 8 inches long. Matures somewhat 

 earlier than Rice and later than Dwarf Golden. Kernels' 

 rounded and silvery white. g^ j^^ Beach. 



CORN, BROOM. See Sorglitim. 



CORN COCKLE. Lychnis Githago. 



CORNEL, CORNELIAN CHEKEY. See Camus Mas. 



CORN FLAG. Gladiolus. 



CORNFLOWER. Centaurea Ci/anus. 



CORN, INDIAN. The . 

 CORN, KAFFIR. See Sorghu 



ime for 2ea Mays, 

 ilgare, var. Durra. 



CORN POPPY of Europe is the weed of the grain 



fields tr.>in whi.h s.iin.' ..f the garden poppies have been 

 raise.l. I'ui,.n;r i;ir,„.<. 



CORN SALAD ( \-,il.,;.n„'Ua olitoria, PaU.). Valeri- 

 andceie. Known also as Lamb's Lettuce, Petticus, and 

 Vetticost. It is a native of Europe. Sow the seed in 

 early spring, at the time of the first sowing of lettuce, 

 and make successional plantings as often as desired. For 

 very early salads the seeds are planted in September, 

 and the young plants are covered with a light mulch and 

 wintered exactly as spinach is often managed. Sow in 

 drills a foot or i8 inches apart and cover lightly. Work 

 the ground thoroughly, and give an abundance of water. 

 The leaves may be blanched, but are usually eaten green. 

 It matures in 60-65 days during good spring weather. 

 Only one variety is offered by most American seedsmen, 

 but several sorts are known to European gardeners. It is 

 sometimes used for a pot-herb, being served like spinach, 

 but is chiefly valuable for salads. It is rather tasteless, 

 and is not so popular: as cress or lettuce on that 

 account, but persons who prefer a very mild salad, or 

 who would rather taste the salad dressing, will doubtless 

 fancy (5orn Salad. It is best served in mixture with 

 other herbs, as lettuce, water cress or white mustard. It 

 is easy to grow. There are no special enemies. 



P. A. Waugh. 



CbBNTJS (ancient Latin name of Cornus Mas). Comet- 

 cem. Dogwood. Shrubs or trees, rarely herbs: Ivs. op- 

 posite, rarely alternate or whorled, deciduous, entire : 

 fls. small, 4-merous, usually white, in terminal cymes 

 (Fig. 553) or heads: fr. a drape, with 2-celled stone. Over 

 30 species in the temperate regions of the northern 

 hemisphere and one in Peru. Hardy ornamental shrubs 



