CORN OR MAIZE 57 



corn is reported as being grown in every state in the 

 Union, these eight are the only ones that produce a surplus 

 crop. The value of the corn crop in the United States 

 in 1910 was estimated at 1500 millions of dollars, and in 

 1911 at 1700 millions of dollars. The value of the cotton 

 crop is about 60 per cent that of corn, of wheat about 40 

 per cent, and of hay about 50 per cent that of the corn 

 crop. 



ADAPTATION 



44. Climate and soil. — Both climate and soil are im- 

 portant factors in the distribution of the corn crop. 

 The fact that so large a per cent of the corn crop is grown 

 in the seven states of the corn belt is evidence that in 

 these states are found the most suitable conditions for its 

 growth. Of the two factors, climate is the more important. 

 Corn requires a long, hot growing season with a great 

 amount of sunshine and rainfall. If the temperature of 

 the growing months, May, June, July, and August, is hot 

 and is accompanied by an abundance of sunshine and 

 plenty of rainfall, corn will grow luxuriantly, soil and 

 other factors being favorable. The corn plant requires a 

 large amount of water to make its growth. It has been 

 estimated that about three hundred tons of water must 

 pass through the plants for each ton of dry matter formed. 

 Thus the rainfall of the growing months is closely asso- 

 ciated with production. It has been found that in the corn 

 belt, the rainfall for July is more closely associated with the 

 yield than that of any other month. 



Corn grows best on loose, fertile, well-drained soil. 

 Clay soils are not well adapted to the growing of corn, 

 unless well supplied with organic matter. When lacking 

 in organic matter, clay soils become hard, the soil particles 



