376 



CORN 



plete commercial fertilizer in each hill, and mix it well 

 with the soil before plantingtheCom. A fertilizer which 

 has a large amount of nitrogen in quickly available form 

 should be chosen for this purpose. Dwarf early maturing 

 varieties may be planted, for early use, as soon as the 

 ground is sufficiently dry and warm. A little later, when 

 the ground is warmer, the second early main crop and 

 late varieties may be planted. Later successional plant- 

 ings insure a supply of green Corn till frost kills the 

 plants. 



Corn is not grown commercially as a forcing crop. 

 Attempts to force it in winter have not given encourag- 

 ing results, but it may be successfully forced in spring, 

 following any of the crops of vegetables which are grown 

 under glass, providing the houses are piped so as to 

 maintain the night temperature at 65° F. Provide good 

 drainage. Give a liberal application of stable manure, 

 and thoroughly mix it with the soil. In the latitude of 

 New York the planting may be made as early as the 1st 

 of March. As soon as the first leaf has unfolded the 

 temperature may be allowed to run high in the sun, if 

 the air is kept moist by wetting the floors and walls. The 

 glass need not be shaded. Keep night temperature close 

 to 65° F. , not lower and not much higher. After the silk 

 appears, jar the stalks every two or three days, when the 

 atmosphere is dry, and thus insure abundant pollination. 

 Early maturing varieties, like Cory, give edible Corn in 

 about 60 days when thus treated. Corn may be forced 

 In the same house with tomatoes, egg-plant, and other 

 vegetables which require similar range of temperature. 



V ABiETiES. — Some of the desirable varieties for the 

 garden, the market and for canning are listed below. 

 These varieties are named for the purpose of showing 

 the range of variation and of indicating the leading 

 groups or types, not to reconmaend these particular kinds. 

 New varieties are continually supplanting the old. 



For the home garden,— Extra-eaTlj : Early Marblehead 

 (Fig. 552), Burbank Early. Second Early: Crosby Early. 

 Main Crop : Large Eight - Rowed, Hickox Improved, 

 Stowell Evergreen. Late : Black Mexican, Country 

 Gentleman. 



For marftei. —Extra-early : Early Cory, Perry Hybrid ; 

 Extra-early Adams, though not a sweet Corn, is largely 

 grown for early use. Second Early : Shaker Early, 

 Crosby Early; Early Adams is grown extensively for 

 market, though not a sweet Com. Main Crop and Late : 

 Mammoth, Stowell Evergreen, Egyptian, Country 

 Gentleman. 



For canning.— Mickox Improved, Crosby Early, Potter 

 Excelsior, Country Gentleman, Egyptian, Old Colony, 

 Stowell Evergreen. 



Diseases and Pests.— The most widespread and de- 

 structive disease of Com in the United States is the 

 smut produced by the parasitic smut-fungus, Ustilago 

 Zece. The sorghum -head smut, Ustilago Reiliana, 

 also attacks Maize. Smut causes most injury when it 

 attacks the ears. The grains are transformed into a 

 mass of dark-colored smut spores, and become ex- 

 ceedingly swollen and distorted out of all semblance 

 to their normal outlines. Infection may take place at 

 any growing point of the plant from early till late in the 

 season, hence treatment of seed Com by fungicides is of 

 no value as a remedy for Corn smut. The destruction 

 of smutted parts of the plants, and taking especial care 

 that the smut does not become mixed with manure which 

 is used for the Corn crop, are measures which may be 

 expected to lessen the prevalence of the disease. No 

 remedy is known. 



The only other disease of Sweet Corn which is known 

 to be of economic importance in the United States is the 

 bacterial blight caused by Pseudomonas Stewarti. It has 

 been found in New York, New Jersey and Michigan, but 

 thus far has been seriously destructive only on Long 

 Island on early dwarf varieties of Sweet Corn. It is char- 

 acterized by wilting and complete drying of the whole 

 plant, as if affected by drought, except that the leaves do 

 not roll up. The fibro-vascular bundles become distinctly 

 yellow, and are very noticeable when the stalk is out 

 open. The disease attacks the plant at any period of 

 growth, but is most destructive about the time the silk 

 appears. No remedy is known. 



Over 200 species of insects are known to be injurious 

 to Corn, either to some part of the growing plant or to 



COENUS 



the stored product. The Corn worm is also known south 

 as the cotton-boll worm. It is destructive to Sweet Corn 

 especially, for it burrows into the ear and feeds on the 

 tender green Com, rendering the ear unacceptable either 

 at canneries or in market. It is known to do serious dam- 

 age as far north as western New York. The best known 

 method of fighting this insect is the breaking of the 

 pupae cells in the earth by shallow fall plowing, which, 

 at best, is but a partial remedy. Wire-worms, northem 

 corn-root worms, white grubs, and certain other grass 

 insects attack Com plants. One of the best preventive 

 measures is to plan the rotation so that Corn does not 

 immediately follow any cereal or grass crop. 



Pop Corn {Zea everta, Sturt.).— Characterized by the 

 excessive proportion of the corneous endosperm, and 

 tbe small size of the kernels and ear. The kernel split 

 laterally shows the chit and corneous matter enveloping, 

 and in some cases a fine, starchy line. The small size of 

 the kernel and the property of popping makes identifica- 

 tion certain. This species-group extends throughout 

 North and South America, and has claims for prehis- 

 toric culture. 



The preparation of soil, planting, and tillage recom- 

 mended for Sweet Com apply equally well to Pop Corn. 



Varieties. — StMTtev&nt, in 1899, describes 25 varieties. 

 The following kinds are popular: 



Dwarf Golden.— Ear 1 to 3 inches long. An early -ma- 

 turing sort, with broad, golden yellow kemds. 



Rice, White Rice.— Ear 4 to 8 inches long. This vigor- 

 ous late variety is widely cultivated. This and other 

 Rice Corns are characterized by deep, tapering, beaked 

 kernels. 



Pearl.— Ear 4 to 8 inches long. Matures somewhat 

 earlier than Rice and later than Dwarf Golden. Kernels 

 rounded and silvery white. g. ^, Beach. 



COBN, BROOM. See Sorghum. 



CORN COCKLE. Lychnis Githago. 



CORNEL, CORNELIAN CHERRY. See Cornus Mas. 



CORN FLAG. Gladiolus. 



CORNFLOWER, Oentaurea Cyanus. 



COBN, INDIAN. The common name for Zea Mays. 



COBN, KAFFIR. See Sorghum vulgare, var. Burra. 



CORN POPPY of Europe is the weed of the grain 

 fields from which some of the garden poppies have been 

 raised, Papaver Shcea^. 



COWX SAL&J) {Valerianella olitoria,PsiU.). Valeri- 

 andtcece. Known also as Lamb's Lettuce, Fetticus, and 

 Vetticost. It is a native of Europe. Sow the seed in 

 early spring, at the time of the first sowing of lettuce, 

 and make successional plantings as often as desired. For 

 very early salads the seeds are planted in September, 

 and the young plants are covered with a light mulch and 

 wintered exactly as spinach is often managed. Sow in 

 drills a foot or 18 inches apart and cover lightly. Work 

 the ground thoroughly, and give an abundance of water. 

 The leaves maybe blanched, but are usually eaten green. 

 It matures in 60-65 days during good spring weather. 

 Only one variety is offered by most American seedsmen, 

 but several sorts are known to European gardeners. It is 

 sometimes used for a pot-herb, being served like spinach, 

 but is chiefly valuable for salads. It is rather tasteless, 

 and is not so popular as cress or lettuce on that 

 account, but persons who prefer a very mild salad, or 

 who would rather taste the salad dressing, will doubtless 

 fancy Corn Salad. It is best served in mixture with 

 other herbs, as lettuce, water cress or white mustard. It 

 is easy to grow. There are no special enemies. 



F. A. Waugh. 



C6BN1TS ( ancient Latin name of Cornus Mas) . Com&- 

 cem. Dogwood. Shrubs or trees, rarely herbs : Ivs. op- 

 posite, rarely alternate or whorled, deciduous, entire : 

 fls. small, 4-merous, usually white, in terminal cymes 

 (Fig. 553) or heads : fr. a drupe, with2-celled stone. Over 

 30 species in the temperate regions of the northern 

 hemisphere and one in Peru. Hardy ornamental shrubs 



