EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 435 



plots were planted alike and treated the same during the season. The 

 crop was harvested for the silo the same day. 



From the time when the corn was an inch high, there was a conspicuous 

 difference in the growth of the two adjacent plots. The one planted with 

 the seed of 1S95 grew more rapidly and more rigorously ; the seed germin- 

 ated more quickly and the shoots were more vigorous from the start. The 

 results at harvest were as follows: 



Gross yield 



per acre. 



Lbs. 



Dry matter 



per acre. 



Lbs. 



Plot 4, seed of 1896 

 Plot 5, seed of 1895. 



17,210 

 19,134 



6,970 

 7,749 



Here was a difference of over 11 $ in favor of the crop grown from the 

 seed of 1895, although that seed was a year older. 



An opportunity was afforded to study this matter farther, incidentally, 

 in another part of the same field, although the corn was not planted for 

 that purpose. Three adjacent plots, 94 rods long, were planted in hills 

 three feet and nine inches apart each way. Plot 7, was planted with a 

 hand planter, Plot 8, with hoes, and Plot 9, with a check rower. The 

 seed of 1896 was used on Plots 7 and 8, and, the supply being exhausted, 

 the seed of 1895 was substituted in Plot 9. The yields were as follows: 



Gross yield. 

 Lbs. per acre 



Plot 7, seed of 1896, planted with hoe 10,670 



Plot 8, seed of 1896, planted with hand planter 13,093 



Plot 9, seed of 1895. planted with check rower 15,945 



No definite conclusion could be predicated from these results of the 

 yields of these three plots because Plot 9 was planted in a different way 

 from Plots 7 and 8. How much of the difference in yield was due to the 

 difference in seed and how much to the difference in the method of plant- 

 ing cannot be even estimated; but it seems safe to ascribe at least part of 

 the increased yield to the use of the better seed. The results in the first 

 test point very clearly in this direction. It is the universal experience of 

 thrifty farmers that it pays to carefully dry seed corn and protect from 

 severe freezing. It seems equally certain that the ripeness of the corn 

 when harvested is as important as subsequent treatment. 



THICKNESS OF PLANTING. 



The next question which arises in growing corn is, how thickly shall 

 the seed be planted to secure the greatest yield per acre. Experiments 

 to aid in answering this question were performed both in 1896 and 1897. 



In 1896, the season was unusually moist, with a rainfall well distributed 

 through the summer months preventing a drouth or even a long dry spell. 

 The newly planted corn was materially injured by wire worms and grubs, 

 interfering with the accuracy of the experiment. The work was carried on 

 in Field 6, on a level and fairly homogeneous area. Five adjacent plots 



