214 GARDEN FARMING 



^ to \ inch in diameter and white in color. The flower stalks 

 grow as tall as the leaves and produce a globular cluster of purplish 

 abortive flowers. 



Culture. The chive thrives on any well-drained, fertile garden 

 soil. The plant often maintains itself from eight to ten years in 

 one place, and for this reason special care should be exercised to 

 make the soil permanently fertile and as free as possible from weeds. 



The characteristic growth of the chive is in clumps 6 or 8 inches 

 in diameter, and, as viable seed is seldom produced by the plant, 

 it is almost entirely perpetuated by division of the clumps. These 

 clumps are broken up, and the bulbs are planted in groups of 

 3 or 4 at distances of 1 2 or 1 5 inches and in rows 15 or 1 8 inches 

 apart. In the Northern states if the transplanting is done in May, 

 the crop will be ready to harvest the following spring. After it 

 is once established it requires little attention. The young tender 

 leaves are the part of the plant used, and in order to keep the 

 leaves young and tender they should be frequently cut close to 

 the surface of the soil. Sometimes chives are gathered in the 

 same manner and used in the same way as young onions ; but, as 

 a rule, the young leaves only are used to flavor soups, stews, and 

 omelets, for which they are considered very essential. 



SWEET CORN 



Sweet corn is the popular name given to an important class of 

 corn made up of varieties possessing more sugar and protein and 

 less starch than those usually grown for grain. In the United 

 States and Canada sweet corn is an important vegetable and 

 market-garden crop. It is, however, little known and used out- 

 side of these two countries, and even in our Southern states it 

 is not extensively grown or used. Its culture and use for table 

 purposes is chiefly confined to the states north of the Carolinas. 

 Its commercial cultivation began about 1825, and for the twenty- 

 five years following this period the New England States furnished 

 practically all the seed sweet corn. At present 80 per cent of this 

 seed corn is grown in Nebraska. 



Sweet corn is an important crop not only in the kitchen and 

 farm garden, but also in the market garden, and every market 



