3. Read and translate the text using the dictionary. Text a Corn

Corn is known to belong to the tropical plants. However, it has been found that it is well adapted to the Temperate Zone where it reaches its best development.

The leading countries in the production of this crop are the United States, Russia, Argentina and Egypt.

Corn is thought to be a native of America. It is said that it was introduced into Europe by Columbus. Botanically corn is a grass, that is, it belongs to the same family of plants as timothy and wheat. Its roots are fibrous and spread several feet in the ground in all directions.

The stem, like that of all the grasses, is made up of nodes and internodes, varying greatly in length in different varieties.

The corn stem is known to have a hard fibrous coat and a soft spongy pith, differing from the hollow stem of most grasses.

The height of the plant varies from 5 to 20 feet. The usual height is considered to be from 5 to 10 feet.

Climatic Requirements. Corn requires a generous, well distributed rainfall, a frost-free growing period of sufficient length and an abundance of warm weather.

A good distribution of rainfall is essential during the critical months of July and August. During this period of rapid growth corn is found to require a large amount of water.

A growing season from 80 to 160 days is necessary to mature the various corn varieties. Production of corn in the northern regions has been increased as a result of the development of very early maturing hybrids. Most of the earlier maturing varieties grown in these areas are used for silage.

Soil. Corn is known to produce a larger total yield than that of the other cereals. It does best in warm, rich, moist, well-drained loam soils. It would also grow, if the land were light and poor, but it makes really good growth only on deep rich soils.

Everybody knows soil fertility to be more important with corn than in the growing of many other cereals. The soil must be compact enough to retain moisture, yet should be fine and mellow enough so that the roots may easily penetrate it.

Planting. The time of planting varies with the location as well as the condition of the soil. To choose a proper time for planting corn is very important for securing good results.

It is useless to plant corn until the soil becomes warm enough; the farmer cannot expect corn to do well if it is planted in cold wet ground. Seed that would normally germinate would be lost if it were planted under improper conditions. The most convenient time to start planting corn in the northern parts of the USA is thought to be that of planting potatoes.

The depth of planting is known to vary with the condition of the soil. The seed must be planted deep enough to get sufficient moisture for its germination, but it is not necessary to plant it deeper.

4. Read and translate the following words and word combinations from English into Russian.

to belong (to), tropical plant, temperate zone, leading countries, to be a native of, to introduce, grass, timothy, wheat, fibrous roots, node, internode, variety, hard fibrous coat, a soft spongy pith, hollow stem, height, a growing season, to mature, silage cereals, soil fertility

5. Translate the following words and word combinations from Russian into English.

плодородие почвы, состояние почвы, прорастание, посев, злаки, хорошо дренированные почвы, валовый урожай, ведущие страны, быть родом из, мочковатая корневая система, стебель, узел, междоузлие, сорт, мягкая губчатая сердцевина, полый стебель, безморозный вегетационный период, распределение осадков, скороспелые гибриды

6. Match the English equivalents with the Russian words.

1. вводить a)fertility

2. мочковатый, волокнистый b) loamy

3. узел c) height

4. сорт, видd) node

5. полыйe) silage

6. высота f) to mature

7. безморозный g) to introduce

8. обилие h) fibrous

9. созреватьi) variety

10. силосj) abundance

11. суглинистыйk) frost-free

12. плодородие l) hollow

7. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the text.

1. Corn is well adapted to the … … where it reaches its best development.

2. Corn … to a tropical plant.

3. Corn was … into Europe by Columbus.

4. The corn stem has a hard … coat and a soft … pith.

5. Most of the early … varieties are used for … .

6. The seed must be planted deep enough to get sufficient … for its … .

7. Soil … is more important for corn than for other … .

8. The external factors influencing plant growth are …, proper temperature, light and plant … in the soil.

9. Great … in the size of corn plant and the time of its … is mainly due to the … in which the crop is grown.

10. The depth of corn seeding … … 1to 3 inches depending on the soil temperature.