You see here before you a field of growing corn. Corn is our most valuable crop. In its production the United States excels every other country in the world. In 1915 we raised 3,054,535,000 bushels. Argentina ranked second, with only 338,235,000 bushels. The value of our corn crop in the same year amounted to $2,236,858,000. Our wheat crop in 1915 was valued at about one-third that of the corn. Our oats crop was about one-fourth the value of the corn crop. The center of corn production in the United States is in the Middle Western States. The leading states in the order of their rank in the production of corn in 1915 are as follows: Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Indiana, and Missouri. A large part of the corn that we grow is used in this country. Most of it is fed to farm animals. The corn belt is also the hog and cattle belt of the country. To grow corn, the ground is first plowed deeply. Then a fine seed bed is made and the grains are planted, usually in the mouth of May. The planting is done by machinery, generally in rows which extend in two directions. This permits of the cultivation of the field lengthwise and crosswise. The ground is kept thoroughly tilled until the corn is in tassel. The crop matures before frost comes. Most of it is husked from the standing stalks, and the ears are pitched into wagons. The loads of husked corn are unloaded in pens or cribs on the farm, or are hauled directly to market. When the first white men came to America, they found the Indians growing corn. It was called maize. The Indians made bread from the corn meal. They also cooked the grains with beans, and called the dish succotash. Corn bread was one of the chief foods of the early white settlers. It is a wholesome food. Keystone ID: 20201 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.