6 BULLETIN 653, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in hills? How far are the rows spaced apart? How far apart are 

 the hills in each row? What is a "chock rower"? How many 

 kernels arc planted in a hill? What is the secret of a prize-winning 

 corn crop '. 



Exercises. — How many kernels arc needed to plant an acre of 

 ground? How many ears does that require? How many farmers 

 in your district take their seed ears from the corncrib in the spring? 

 Is there any certain way to find whether they will grow before plant- 

 ing them in the field? (See p. 4.) How many kernels in a quart of 

 good shelled seed corn of the kinds commonly grown in the locality? 

 How many quarts are needed to plant an acre? How many bushels 

 for 40 acres? How many bushels qf shelled corn do the best farmers 

 in your district raise on an acre? How does this compare with the 

 best yields made by the boys' corn clubs in your State? 



References. — Farmers' Bulletins 414. pp. 19-24: 537, pp. 14. 15: 

 729, pp. 8-13. Farmers' Bulletin 773 gives on pp. 12-16 instructions 

 on time and methods of planting corn under droughty conditions. 



LESSON IX. 



Subject. — The cultivation of corn. 



Topics for study. — Purposes of cultivating corn. Importance of 

 first cultivation. Shallow cultivation. Meaning of a soil mulch. 

 Purpose of a mulch. Proper depth. Frequency of renewal. 



Exercises. — The effect of a soil mulch may be shown by filling two 

 cans or flower pots with soil and planting corn. When the plants are 

 3 inches high cover the soil in one pot with a layer of coarse sand 

 or granular dry soil to a depth of 1 inch. Place in the window and 

 observe which plants first show the need of water. 



If a man and team harrow 15 acres a daj\ how long will it take to 

 harrow a field twice which is SO rods long and 60 rods wide? What 

 would be the cost, charging local prices? 



References. — Directions for the proper cultivation of corn are 

 given in Farmers' Bulletin 229 for the "Corn Belt States," and in 

 Farmers' Bulletin 81* for States farther south. Farmers' Bulletin 

 7i".' gives on pp. 13-10 instructions on how to cultivate corn in the 

 Southeastern Slates. Farmers' Bulletin 773, pp. 16-18. Farmers' 

 Bulletin ">".7. pages 16 and 17. gives general directions for cultivating 

 corn with a view to producing a maximum yield. Nearly every 

 Slate has one or more bulletins on this subject. These should always 

 be procured from the State agricultural college and studied in the 

 < lass. 



LESSON X. 



Subject. — Corn diseases and pests. 



Topics for study. — The corn root-louse. The chinch bug. The 

 corn ear-worm. Weeds. Corn smut. The larger cornstalk-borer. 



