Agrioultukal Division. 



317 



and commenced to shed pollen. As the tassel at this time is partially 

 protected, within the folds of the leaves, it can only he completely 

 removed by grasping the top of the tassel and giving it an upward pull 

 which causes it to break off as described above. Experiments in detassel. 

 ing have been made at other experiment stations where the practice has 

 been to remove the tassels by cutting them off with a corn knife which 

 would either cause an injury to the leaves or a delay until the tassels had 

 become fully expanded and had shed pollon, as some tassels wiU shed 

 pollen while yet partially protected within the folds of the leaves. In 

 either case a benefit ought not to be expected from the practice. 

 Our experiments show that the object of removing the tassels is not 

 accomplished if they are allowed to remain until fully expanded and 

 become polleniferous. 



The following tables give the results of the practice from each of 

 the three plots : 



PLOT I. 



Yield per acre, tassels off, 5,000 pounds. 

 Yield per acre, tassels on, 4,449 pounds. 

 Gain by removing tassels, 12.4 per cent. 



