CORN 133 



CHAPTER XIII 

 CORN. 



WHEN America was first explored the natives were grow- 

 ing this crop, hence the name Indian com. The plant was 

 not known hi the Old World before that. It has been much 

 improved by breeding and selection since that time. 



Importance. It is far the most important field crop now 

 grown in the United States. In money value it is more 

 than double OUT wheat crop or cotton crop, in the average 

 year. In number of bushels corn is approximately four times 

 as large as any other grain crop of America. Probably three- 

 fourths of the world's corn is grown in the United States. 

 Although the crop is grown to some extent in every state of 

 the Union, the seven "corn belt" states grow from one-half 

 to two-thirds of the crop. These states are Illinois, Iowa, 

 Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, and Ohio. 



The Corn Crop. Corn is king and alfalfa is queen. These 

 two crops go together very well. On dairy farms, where 

 these two crops are raised for the stock, we find very little 

 outside feed is purchased. They cut down the feed bills 

 enormously. Too few farmers in the dairy sections are trying 

 alfalfa; and too many farmers are not doing their best even 

 in the corn fields. 



Winter is the time to make plans for the corn crop for the 

 following spring. If the seed is not on hand it should be 

 secured and tested for its germinating powers. Whiter is a 

 good time to plan the fields and decide how much corn ground 

 will be used for production of green forage, how much for 

 ensilage, if any, and how much for whiter fodder and ears. 



Types of Corn. The four main types of corn raised in 

 America are pop corn, sweet corn, flint corn, and dent corn. 

 The last two are both spoken of as field corn. 



