559 



with a oorn platitfir on uneven gronnd so that all ihn corn may he covererl, hoth the 

 study of the roots and tlie results of Expciuueut No. 4 (depth of phiutini;) indicate 

 that little, if any harm will result. 



Experiment No. 24. — Com, effect of fertilizers (pp. 428-111). — The 

 results of experiments in 1888, 1889, and 1890 are summarized in tables. 

 The fertilizers used were stable manure, hog and cattle tankage, muri- 

 ate of potash, superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia, and nitrate of soda. 



Tliere was an increased yield of 9 hushels per acre outhejjlat fertilized with stahle 

 manure each season over those plats receiving no manure. The average yield of corn 

 on the eight plats treated with commercial fertilizers was ahout 1 hushel less than 

 on the two plats receiving no manure. On no plat so treated was the yield over 2 

 hushels more than on those receiving no fertilizers. 



Experiment No. 23. — Rotations with corn, oats, and meadoiv, and with 

 corn and oats, compared tcith continuous cropping of corn (pp. 431, 432). 



Tliis experiment is introduced here on account of its bearing upon the question of 

 the application of fertilizers for the production of corn. 



Brielly, ten half-acre plats, 5 by IG rods, have been cropped during the past 14 years 

 as follows : plats 1, 2, and 3 have been in corn continuously ; plat 4 in corn and oats 

 alternately; and plats 5, fi, 7, 8, 9, and 10 have had this rotation : corn, 2 years; 

 oats, 1 year ; meadow (clover, timothy, or both), 3 years. 



From plats 1, 2, and 3 both corn and stocks have been removed. Plat 1 has had a 

 liberal application of stable manure each year. Plat 3 has had no fertilizer of any 

 kind api)lied. * " * 



[Dissolved bone-black, muriate or sulphate of potash, and sulphate of anmionia 

 were applied on plat 2 in 1888, 1889, and 1890.] 



The half acre which had been manured 13 years successively with stable manure 

 yielded in 1888 about one fourth; in 1889, after another liberal apjilication of stable 

 manure, about three fourths; and in 1890, after still another liberal application of 

 stable manure, about one third more corn than the unfertilized half acre upon 

 which corn has been raised continuously for 15 years. Averaged for 3 years, the plat 

 which received stable manure yielded about 38 per cent more than the plat not fer- 

 tilized. The average increase in yield was 18.4 bushels per acre. At 35.7 cents 

 per bushel, the average farm price of corn in Illinois during 12 years (1876-87), this 

 increase would be worth yearly $6.5G. The plat receiving commercial fertilizers 

 yielded during the 3 years a little less (although practically the same) than plats 

 receiving no fertilizer of any kind. 



A table shows the yield on each plat for 1888, 1889, and 1890. 



Summary of experiments with corn (pp. 390-392). 



Among the many varieties of dent corn tried one or more years, twelve have been 

 tested in 1888, 1889, and 1890, and each has averaged 67 bushels per acre or more, 

 the largest average yield being 80 bushels. Of the yellow varieties, Leaining, Fisk, 

 Legal Tender, Clark's Iroqnois, and Riley's Favorite are medium-maturing, and will 

 he found desirable for Central Illinois. Steward's Improved is too late for this local- 

 ity. Murdock and Edmonds are early-maturing and may be grown farther noith. 

 Of white varieties. Champion White Pearl or Burr's White, and Clark's llO-Day are 

 medium-maturing and desirable for Central Illinois. Helm's Improved is almost too 

 late for this locality. 



The stand of corn has been about 10 per cent less than the per cent of kernels 

 sprouting under test conditions. 



Barrenness does not seem to be a variety characteristic, but depends largely upon 

 the season and the thickness of planting. The stalks had many more ears in 1889 

 than in 1888 and 1890. There were fewer barrea stalks where corn was planted at 



