SWEET CORN 135 



are more difficult to care for; and they are not 

 nearly so attractive as the regularly arranged hill 

 clumps of growing corn. Lay off the rows 3 feet 

 apart; and mark the hills, also, 3 feet apart, ar- 

 ranging them alternately as though the hills were 

 at the corners of geometrical diamonds or squares. 

 That allows for even thorough cultivation between 

 the parallel rows and diagonally and also about 

 each hill. Whether planted in hills or in rows, be 

 sure to scatter the cutworm deterrent, tobacco 

 waste, beneath the kernels; cover them with at 

 least an inch of earth in dry weather and then 

 firm well. 



As soon as the green hill clumps are plain to be 

 seen and the sturdiest shoots of corn show big and 

 green, the first attention is required. Give the 

 young corn a stimulating food and with it provide 

 any food supplement needed for this special vege- 

 table. At the same time, begin to thin the weak- 

 est sprouts. Then start cultivation. Plenty of 

 food for general vegetable growth was placed in 

 the soil by the fall preparation. An abundance of 

 natural fertilizers, the reliable food supply for 

 big corn growth, was plowed under at that time. 

 However, it requires time for the complete dis- 

 integration and the chemical changes necessary to 

 convert this material into that which produces 

 growth. Later in the season, as the roots reach 

 down into the moist lower levels of soil, they will 

 find these rich food stores prepared to make con- 



