REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



27 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



INDIAN CORN PLOTS. 



The experiments with the plots of Indian corn have been conducted with the object 

 of obtaining the largest weight of well mature-d green fodder for the silo, and to have 

 the corn so far advanced when cut, tha^ the ears shall be as far as is practicable in 

 the late milk or glazed condition. Each plot has been divided from the outset into two 

 equal parts, on one of which — known as No. 1 — one of the stronger growing and some- 

 what later ripening sorts has been tried, and on the other, marked No. 2, one of the 

 earlier maturing varieties. During the first four years one of the Dent varieties was 

 tested under No. 1. The Mammoth Southern Sweet was tried in 1888 to 1890. In 

 1891 the Red Cob Ensilage was used, and in 1892 to 1902 the Rural Thoroughbred 

 ^^^lite Flint was tested. On the other half of the plot (No. 2) the Canada Yellow 

 Flint was used in 1888 to 1890, the Thoroughbred White Flint in 1891, Pearce's Pro- 

 lific in 1892 to 1894, and the Mammoth Eight-Rowed Flint in 1895 to 1902. For the 

 first four years the No. 1 series was planted in drills 3 feet apart, using about 24 

 pounds of seed to the acre and thinning the plants, when up, to 6 or 8 inches, and the 

 No. 2 in hills 3 feet apart each way with 4 or 5 kernels in a hill. During the past seven 

 years both sorts have been grown in hills. 



In 1900 no crop of Jndian corn was grown on these plots, but clover was sown in 

 its place on May 5 in the proportion of 12 pounds per acre. This made a strong growth, 

 was cut twice during the season and left on the ground to decay, so that when ploughed 

 under, the land might get the full benefit of the clover crop. The clover was allowed 

 to remain growing until May 20, 1901. It was then ploughed under about 6 inches 

 deep, and harrowed well before the com was planted. Clover was sown again in 1903, 

 and ploughed under in May, 1904. The corn was planted in 1904, on June 6, and cut 

 for ensilage September 26. v 



EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF INDIAN CORN, CUT GREEN 



FOR ENSILAGE. 



o 



o 



Fertilizers api^lied each year from 1888 to 

 1893 or 1899. No fertilizers used since. 

 Clover sown in 1900 in place of th^ corn 

 and ploughed under in May, 1901, before 

 the com was planted. In 1903 clover was 

 again sown and ploughed under in May, 

 1904. 



Bam-yard manure (mixed horse and cow 

 manure) well rotted, 12 tons per acre, 

 each year from 1888 to 1898 inclusive. 

 No manure has been applied since then. . 



Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow 

 manure) fresh, 12 tons per acre each year 

 from 1388 to 1898 inclusive. No manure 

 has been applied since then 



Unmanured from the beginning 



]Mineral phosphate,untreated, finely ground, 

 800 lbs. j)er acre, used each year from 

 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 

 a similar weiglit of the Thomas' phos- 

 phate was used. No fertilizers have been 

 applied since then 



Average Yield 



FOR 



Fourteen Years. 



.a, 



Per acre. 



c 





Per acre 



15th Season, 1904. 





O . 



^ C 

 .- ^ 

 be p 



'32. 



tL 



I TS O 



c tr.x: r 



T- C be S 



Average Yield 



FOR 



Fifteen Years. 



Per acre. Per acre 



Tons. Ibs.iTons lbs Tons lbs. 'Tons lbs Tons lbs, 



I a 

 . bo 



-e.bc-o 



Per acre. 



I ^ 



-■^ 5) 



Z 



Per acre 



IG 757113 16; 



16 



7 



627 

 28 



7 1,749 



11 941 

 5 209 



Tons lbs 



IG 1,460 14 64016 



16 130 



9 1,600 



13 24016 

 9 1,470' 7 



804 13 332 



59411 1,161 

 399 5 826 



4 1,844 13 540 13 40 8 463 5 924 



