154 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



increased com production last year may be partially due to the 

 long intervals between the dates of removing the tassels, although 

 a greater tendency to corn production is shown by the marked 

 increase in the number of sets in each of the good, poor and 

 abortive ears, the total increase being above twenty per cent. 



As the condition of the weather during the period of removing 

 the tassels in the two years, and the amount of rainfall during the 

 period of growth of the corn varied as greatly as did the results 

 of the experiments, it is more than possible that these conditions 

 influenced to a great extent the results. In 1890, during the 

 months of July and August, the amount of rainfall, as shown by 

 the records of the New York State Meteorological Bureau, was 

 5.53 inches with .42 inches during the period of removing the 

 tassels (July 21, August 4) while in 1891, during July and August, 

 the rainfall was 7.G9 inches with 3.80 inches during the period 

 of detasseling. 



During the former experiment, the corn apparently suffered on 

 account of insufficient moisture, which continued for some time 

 after the tassels were removed, while last year, during the same 

 period, there was abundant moisture. 



To get some idea, if possible, of the amount of plant food lost 

 to the plant, and given off in the form of anthers and pollen, the 

 following test was made in the University cornfield last year on 

 the same variety of com and under similar conditions as was the 

 detasseling expeiiment. 



Large paper bags were tied over the tassels before they had 

 become expanded, the bags being of sufficient size to allow the 

 tassel to expand, and were securely tied about the stalk to pre- 

 vent the escape of any poUen. These bags were tied on the stalks 

 July thirtieth to August third and taken to the station chemist, 

 Mr. Harry Snyder, August thirteenth, who reported that an aver- 

 age of six stalks gave of anthers 7.02 graius and of pollen 3.49 

 grams. An analysis of the anthers and pollen gave the following 

 composition: 



Anthers. 



Water 24.56 



.\sh 2. 73 



Fat (ether extract) 2.07 



