GREEN CORN UNDER GLASS 



BY FRANK WM. RANK 



The forcing of sweet corn is practically unknown. That 

 this crop can be grown under glass and if properly handled be 

 profitable, I believe we are able to demonstrate. The idea 

 that it was possibly adapted for forcing occurred to the writer 

 when studying the root development of corn under glass. The 

 corn grown at this time surprised us by its developing very 

 fair sized nubbins under what might be termed very unfavor- 

 able conditions. 



During the season of 1896-7, the onl}' house available for the 

 experiment was a large vegetable house, 25 x 100 feet; and as 

 lettuce, cauliflower, etc., which demand a low temperature, 

 are grown in this house during the fore part of the season, the 

 sweet corn was not planted until April, when these crops were 

 marketed. 



The nature of the greenhouse is very important, as it is neces- 

 sary that the plants have sufficient room for development. The 

 house ordinarily used for lettuce and cucumbers in New Eng- 

 land answers very well, while those filled with benches would 

 not do. The plants vary according to the variety from four 

 to eight feet in height. The house used in the present experi- 

 ment has ground-floor beds, as shown in the photographs, and 

 the center bed, which is 15x88 feet, is six feet from the glass 

 at its nearest point, while the average is seven and one-half 

 feet. The corn was planted April jo and matured July 6. 

 While we have not grown an extensive crop in midwinter, our 

 results from the corn fruited in experimental boxes lead us 

 to believe that with proper culture an entire house devoted to 

 this crop would be highly successful. 



wSweet corn does not appear in the Boston market until about 



