43S 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



long. Plot 1, was 14 feet wide, and was planted as in 1896 with the same 

 grain drill, every tube sowing. Plot 2, was also 14 feet wide and as in 

 1896 the rows were 14 inches apart, being sown by each alternate tube of 

 the grain drill. The kernels were on the average three inches apart in the 

 row. In Plot 3 the rows were 28 inches apart and in Plot 4, 42 inches 

 The corn was harvested September 15th. The next table shows the com- 

 position of the dry matter of the yields of each plot. 



Composition of the dry matter of the crop from different plots in 1897. 



In 1897 there was no prolonged drouth although little rain fell during 

 the summer months. The supply of moisture was too limited to permit a 

 full growth of the corn in Plot 1 where the plants were crowded. Differ- 

 ing in this respect from 1896, the thickly-sown corn contained nearly 65 

 per cent of water while that of Plot 4, contained but 60. The variation in 

 richness in protein is conspicuous, but four per cent in the thickly-sowa 

 corn as against 7.56 per cent where the rows were 42 inches apart. The 

 variation in the content of crude fiber is shown by the table. The more 

 thickly the corn is sown the greater the per cent of crude fiber. In this 

 instance the N. free extract is more abundant in the corn planted thin than 

 in the thickly-sown plots. 



The next table gives the yields of the plots in green crop, dry matter 

 and nutrients. 



Yields per acre of thick and thin seeding in 1897. 



In 1897 the yield of green forage from the thickly-planted plot did not 

 as in 1896 exceed the yields from the plots more thinly planted. In dry 

 matter, too, Plots 2, 3 and 4 exceed Plot 1; the yield of protein in Plot 4 

 was more than double that of Plot 1; in fact it is in crude fiber alone, that 

 least valuable nutrient, that Plot 1 excels the other plots of the series. 



A study of the above tables teaches, among others, the following 

 practical lessons, although the work will need to be repeated many times 

 before definite and positive conclusions can be drawn: 



