Food for Plants. 45 



FERTILIZERS FOR CORN. 



Corn varies in yield of grain per acre, according to 

 the character of the soil upon which it is g^o^^^l, the loca- 

 tion of its growth and the variety used. Soils best suited 

 for corn culture are rich, deep loams, naturally well 

 drained and located in those regions where the average 

 temperatures during the growing months of May to Sep- 

 tember, inclusive, reach from 75 degrees to 80 degrees 

 Fahr. That is, the best climatic conditions do not depend 

 upon average annual temperature, but upon the high 

 temperature maintained during these growing months. 

 The growing season will, however, var)^ also in different 

 sections of the country, ranging from 90 to 160 days, 

 and varieties exist which are adapted to these different 

 growing periods. The yield is also, of course, influenced 

 by moisture, depending again not altogether upon the 

 total rainfall, but upon the requisite amounts that may 

 be depended upon from May to September, the growing 

 months. The plants need high temperatures and maxi- 

 mum rainfalls throughout July and August, with clear, 

 sunshiny weather between rains. 



The variety also has a direct influence upon the 

 yield of the crop, and work done recently in the matter 

 of corn breeding and selection has very considerably 

 broadened the area of profitable culture. The Flint 

 varieties are more suitable for the northern sections, and 

 the Dent varieties for the central and southern sections 

 of the United States. 



The Object of Growth — Grain. 



Corn is grown mainly for its grain, and for this reason 

 the greatest attention has been given to the development 

 of varieties that will yield the largest proportion of grain 

 to stalk; because, however, of the increasing use of corn 

 as a forage plant, much attention has recently been given 

 to the varieties adapted for soiling and for silage. 



In growing corn for these dilTerent purposes, different 

 methods are adopted. When the main object is to secure 

 grain, varieties are selected which produce large, uni- 



