EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



457 



concerned, three stalks per bill under the conditions here existing are 

 sufficient. 



Samples were taken for chemical analysis by selecting at each date fif- 

 teen stalks as nearly representative of the average plants as possible. 

 These specimen stalks were run through a cutting box, dried, again sam- 

 pled and analyzed. The results of that analysis are reported on page 

 285 in connection with the composition of the silage from the corn cut 

 on the several dates. 



The next table shows the weight of the corn as cut, less the weights 

 of the 15 stalks taken for analysis, the amount of dry matter and of the 

 various nutrients in the 400 hills of corn cut on the several dates. 



Dry matter and nutrients in 400 hills of corn, 1897. 



Date. 



August 10 



August 25 



September 6 



September 15 



Ash 

 Lbs. 



37.23 

 38.20 

 44.67 

 39.58 



The increase in total weight of green corn was not as regular and con- 

 stant as the increase in dry matter. The intervals between the succes- 

 sive dates were not of the same length, and the weather between Sep- 

 tember 6 and 15 was exceedingly dry and hot, much more so than be- 

 tween the other dates. The amount of water in the stalks would there- 

 fore be expected to be much less on the last date than upon either of 

 the others. Between August 10 and 25, the temperatures were low and 

 the weather moist, hence the corn ripened slowly and it was necessary 

 to make the period long to allow for the change in the ear and stalk. 



The area represented by the 400 hills was .1201 acre. 



Calculating, from the data already given, the yields of dry matter and 

 nutrients per acre, we have the following table: 



Yields per acre of green fodder, dry matter and nutrients. 



Date. 



August 10 



August 25 



September 6. 

 September 15 



Tasseled. 

 Roasting. 

 Glazing. 

 Ripe. 



There was a rapid and regular increase in gross weight of the crop per 

 acre up to the time of glazing, when the field bore as heavy a crop as at any 

 period either earlier or later. Thereafter the changes were not in increased 

 weight, but in the displacement of water by dry matter. The intervals 

 between the different dates on which the samples were taken were not 

 regular. Attention was paid not to the calendar but to the condition of 

 the corn. Between the time when the corn was fully tasseled and when 

 the ears were in the early roasting stage there was a gain of dry matter 

 of 44 per cent. From early roasting to glazing there was a gain of dry 

 matter of over 33 per cent, and between glazing of the kernels and full 



58 



