SWEET CORN 117 



canning factories provide corn seed free to those 

 who grow corn for them, rather than let the farmers 

 try to save their own seed, and thus run a chance 

 of getting it mixed. Different varieties of corn, 

 grown together, will surely mix, and it would not 

 be wise to save such seed. This is true of many 

 garden plants. There is little seed from the garden 

 that can be used to advantage. Beans and tomatoes 

 are notable exceptions to this rule. 



Depth of Planting. — Corn should not be planted 

 over an inch deep, unless the soil is very light and 

 tends to be dry. For the Bantam corn, make hills 

 two and a half feet apart; for the larger sorts, at 

 least three feet. Scoop out the earth an inch deep 

 with a hoe and drop about ten kernels, leaving half 

 an inch between each seed. Then cover with the 

 hoe and make the earth firm. If this is early in 

 the season, and frosts are still possible, a wise gar- 

 dener will go over the row ten days later and drop a 

 half dozen kernels next to each hill. Then if any- 

 thing happens to the first sowing, the other one is 

 ready to take its place. 



Cultivation 



Habit of Growth. — In handling sweet corn one 

 will have much greater success if he understands a 

 little about its habit of growth. As soon as the 

 sprout appears, long, threadlike roots run out in all 

 directions, an inch- or two under the surface ; while 



