Q GREEN CORN UNDER GLASS 



THE HOUSE, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT 



T'/ie House. — A house adapted to the growing of cucumbers 

 or tomatoes trained to one stem, should grow sweet corn. 

 The ordinary New Enghmd lettuce-house therefore answers- 

 admirably for this purpose. The plants being tall, ranging 

 from three and one-half to eight feet according to variety, need 

 considerable space overhead. A house capable of holding the 

 temperature of 75° or higher during the day, and not below 60°, 

 or better, 70° at night, is desirable. Even out of season corn 

 demands its summer conditions in order to get best results. It 

 does not, however, seem to be as tender and as easily checked 

 as other plants, such as the egg-plant, melons, etc. It needs 

 all the sunlight ; therefore the glass needs no shading. 



Fig. 2 is a photograph taken of the house used in this exper- 

 iment. It was taken when the first crop of lettuce was com- 

 ing oft' the present season. 



Soil. — Any good fertile greenhouse soil will be favorable for 

 sweet corn. Unlike many of the more delicate plants, it is a 

 ravenous feeder provided other conditions are favorable. The 

 soil in which our plants were grown was that mixed and used 

 for forcing head lettuce, — a rather light sandy loam, with which 

 all greenhouse men are acquainted. For the novice I would 

 recommend a visit to a house forcing head lettuce, or he may 

 find full directions in literature on forcing. After two crops 

 of lettuce had been taken off", the corn was planted without sup- 

 plying further plant food. 



Our beds are on the ground and therefore much deeper than 

 the ordinary raised bed, although we renew only about the 

 same depth of soil from year to year, usually used in the raised 

 ones. Ordinarily it probably would be advisable to add and 

 mix in well some complete fertilizer. After a study of the de- 

 velopment of corn roots, I am convinced that the plant will not 

 suffer for food as long as there is any available about it. 



Sowing and Traiisplaiiting. — Much time is gained by 

 soaking the seed before planting as in this way they germinate 

 more quickly. Should space be very scarce or the crop pre- 

 ceding rather late, the corn may be started in flower-pots and 

 then transplanted. Care should be exercised, however, in so 



