Cooperative Tests of Corn Varieties 401 



The acclimated local yellow flint variety seemed to be superior to all 

 others in the second test. In the third trial a twelve-rowed flint variety 

 produced the largest and best-matured yield of ears. The flint varieties 

 appeared better adapted to the climatic conditions at Delhi, but they 

 varied somewhat in percentage of moisture. The moisture determina- 

 tions were made on the best samples grown on selected plats and do not 

 represent the immature condition of most of the varieties. The range in 

 moisture content for some of the silage varieties was as high as 47 per cent. 

 The weight per hill does not give a correct idea of the fodder produced 

 by each variety, for when dry-matter determinations were made for single 

 hills of a few varieties the range in dry-matter content was found to be 

 from 22.2 to 44.4 per cent. Of the dent varieties, Onondaga White and 

 a selected strain of Pride of the North came nearest to maturing in 191 1. 

 Several of the flint varieties matured each year and there is little doubt 

 that if ripe corn is desired the early flint varieties should be grown. Those 

 kinds that show the higher percentages of moisture have some adaptability 

 for silage purposes; Hall's Gold Nugget appears to excel the others for 

 silage. Some of the varieties grown for silage by farmers in that section 

 showed at cutting time a high percentage of moisture. The best silage 

 cannot be made from such immature corn fodder ; more mature kinds will 

 produce a larger percentage of digestible food, though the yield in tons 

 of fodder may be less. 



Experiments at Alfred 



The farm of the New York State School of Agriculture at Alfred Univer- 

 sity is situated at an elevation of nearly 1,900 feet above sea level. The 

 soil is known as Volusia silt loam. Neither soil nor climate is well adapted 

 to com growing, although some fields of com are cultivated in that section. 

 In order to ripen seed at Alfred, a corn variety must grow rapidly to 

 maturity. Late planting combined with adverse weather conditions 

 made the test a failure in 1909. Ten varieties were planted in 1910 and 

 eight of these were harvested. Seven varieties were harvested in 191 1, 

 although none of them fully matured. The yields for two years are 

 reported in Table 3 as field-cured ear corn and stover. The experiments 

 were in charge of CO. Du Bois, of the New York State School of 

 Agriculture. 



Except for silage purposes the dent varieties tested at Alfred are of no 

 value. Only two of the fiint varieties — Canada Smut Nose and Twelve- 

 rowed — came near maturing in 191 1 when early frost killed all varieties 

 in September. It does not seem likely that a variety of corn can be obtained 

 that will mature profitable crops of grain and fodder each year under the 



