226 



GARDEN FARMING 



Methods of cultivation. The cultivation of corn should be 

 shallow and frequent. Deep cultivation with broad blades increases 

 the soil surface exposed to evaporation and thus decreases the 

 available moisture supply for the plant. Deep cultivation is a 

 root-pruning process, usually to the detriment of the plant. The 

 objects of cultivation should be to eliminate weeds and to conserve 



moisture by the mainte- 

 nance of a loose surface 

 layer of soil. On some soils 

 the crop is actually increased 

 by cultivation which merely 

 eliminates weeds without 

 disturbing the soil. 



Harvesting. Sweet corn 

 carries its maximum sugar 

 content when the kernels 

 are fully developed but are 

 still in the dough state. 

 Harvesting in order to in- 

 sure the maximum yield of 

 product as well as the high- 

 est sugar content should be 

 done at this stage. Har- 

 vesting for table use should 

 be delayed so that the short- 

 est possible interval will 

 elapse between gathering 

 and cooking. If it is possi- 

 ble to reduce this to one 

 hour, so much the better. 

 Figure 86 illustrates an ear 

 of sweet corn in ideal condition for table use. 



Insects, and diseases. Sweet corn, like field corn, is subject to 

 attack by smut, Ustilago zeae. This disease can be combated only 

 by sanitary measures : the use of clean seed, soil free from the 

 disease, and manure which has no smut spores in it. Farmyard 

 manures made on farms where corn stover and ear corn are fed is 

 more likely to carry spores than manure from city stables. As a 



FIG. 86. An ear of sweet corn in ideal 

 condition for table use 



