THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 297 
deep. In case a fertilizer is used, scatter it in the hill and 
cover it with an inch of soil before planting the corn. A 
row of radishes or spinach may be grown between the 
corn rows. 
Culture. Cultivate after every rain. The roots of corn 
are near the surface, so do not hoe too deep around the 
hill. Preserve a surface mulch. After the plants have 
made a good start, thin to four strong plants in each 
hill. A dressing of nitrate of soda or liquid manure will 
cause a strong growth. Rake in the nitrate of soda 
around the hill, but do not let it touch the plants. 
Pop corn. The directions for growing pop corn are the 
same as for sweet corn. 
Field corn. Field corn is usually planted in hills three 
feet eight inches apart each way. Plant three grains in 
a hill. It may be cultivated to a depth of four or five 
inches while it is small. After it has grown to be 
eighteen inches high, cultivation must be shallow to 
avoid injuring the network of fine roots between the 
rows. A dust mulch should be kept on the surface. 
Diseases. If dark masses of fungous growth, called 
smut, make their appearance, collect and burn them. 
Do not fertilize the land with manure from cattle which 
have been fed with corn infested with smut. If the seed 
is taken from a field which contains smut, soak it for 
one hour in a solution of one ounce of formalin to two 
gallons of water. 
Pests. Use poisoned bait for cutworms. Rotate the 
crop for the many other pests that attack corn. 
