88 FAKM-GAKDEXING AXD SEED-GROWING. 



bulk, but it is more convenient to place it promiscuously 

 in well-ventilated barrels. 



Seed, Sweet corn will mix with field corn if grown 

 near it ; hence, to keep the stock pure, this must be 

 avoided. The cultivation is the same as for market, and 

 should be planted about the middle of May. Good sweet 

 corn for seed can be grown on inverted sward-land, using 

 as a fertilizer a handful of bone-phosphate to each hill, 

 well mixed with the soil. When the stalks begin to dry 

 they must be cut and bound in small shocks, the same as 

 field corn, and afterwards the ears husked out and spread 

 in a loft to dry thoroughly. The nicest but the most la- 

 borious way to save seed sweet-corn is, when the stalks 

 are partially dry, to break the whole ear off, and with 

 one or two of the outer husks, tie six or eight ears to- 

 gether, and hang them over a fence or in a loft until 

 they become perfectly dry, when they may be husked 

 out. The small grains at the point of the ear and 

 all imperfect grains should be removed, the bal- 

 ance shelled by hand and passed through the fan-mill. 

 Sweet corn retains moisture a long time, and must not be 

 hastily stored away in bulk. If kept from the weevil it 

 retains its vitality two years. 



Varieties, The varieties are numerous, but those in 

 general cultivation are few. 



Extra Early Dwarf Sugar, The earliest known sort ; 

 stalk three and a half to four feet high; ears short, 

 eight-rowed, rather small for market; valuable for its 

 earliness. 



Early Eight-rowed Sugar, The best early variety to 

 grow for market in quantity ; stalk five feet high ; ears 

 eight-rowed; about eight inches long, tapering to the 

 point ; kernels plump and full. 



Mammoth or Excelsior Sweet. The best of all sweet 

 corn, but rather late ; stalk six feet ; ears twelve to sixteen 



