560 



the orflinary rate of 13,000 kernels per acre than at either thicker or tliiimer plant- 

 ing. When four times as many kernels were planted one half the stalks were 

 barren. 



Withont exception the medium-maturing varieties (maturing about September 20) 

 have given each year a higher average yield than either tlie early or late-maturing 

 varieties— from 7 to 20 bushels higher than the former, and from 2 to 7 bushels higher 

 than the latter. 



The per cent of water in the kernel of the corn when husked varies with the vari- 

 ety and with the season. During the 3 years the early-maturing varieties have 

 contained an average of 17.1 per cent of water; the medium-maturing, 21.3 per cent; 

 and the late-maturing, 26.4 per cent. (Thoroughly air-dry corn contains about 11 

 per cent of water.) Taking au average of the three seasons, the loss in weight of 

 shelled corn from November 1, when the crop was gathered, until it became thor- 

 oughly air-dry was, for the medium-maturing varieties, at the rate of 115 bushels in 

 1,000 bushels. The loss from drying in 1890 was only about half that of 1888 and 

 1889. Seventy-five pounds of ear corn were ample to give for a bushel of corn on 

 N^ovember 1, 1890 ; but in 1889, 80 pounds were not sufficient. 



Good crops of corn were raised from a medium-maturing variety when planted at 

 Any time during May. Planting in the last week of April gave somewhat poorer 

 results, and the land uniformly required more cultivation to keep it equally free from 

 weeds. When the corn was planted after the 1st of June the yield was somewhat 

 less and the corn did not always mature. 



While during no season was there any direct relationship between the depth of 

 planting and the yield, taking an average of the three seasons, the shallower-planted 

 rows gave the larger yield. It was found that, not counting the roots directly at the 

 seed, which alterwards die, the first whorl of roots starts at from 1 to 2 inches from 

 the surface, without reference to the depth at which the kernel has been planted. 



Coin planted at the rate of one kernel to every 12 inches, in rows 3 feet 8 inches 

 apart, about 12,000 kernels per acre, gave a larger average yield of corn and a larger 

 yield of good ears; and contained more.corn in proportion to stalk by weight, and a 

 larger proportion of ears to number of stallis, than when planted either thicker or 

 thinner. The thinner the planting the larger were the single ears and stalks. 



If the average of the 3 years be taken, the yield of corn fodder (corn and stalks) and 

 corn stover (corn fodder after the corn has been husked) decreased constantly from 

 the thickest to the thinnest plantings. Planting at the rate of one kernel every 3 

 inches, 47,520 per acre, gave a little larger yield of dry matter and of digestible sub- 

 stance than planting at twice that distance; but the yield of grain from the latter 

 planting was so much better that it is believed the nutritive value of the crop for 

 fodder purposes was greater where planted at the rate of one kernel every 6 inches, 

 about 24,000 kernels per acre. The average yield of field-cured corn fodder from the 

 five thicknesses of planting (one kernel every 3 inches to one kernel every 15 inches) 

 during the 3 years, was nearly 6 tons per acre. Neither for fodder purposes, nor for 

 the production of grain merely, was there auy material dilference in the yield whether 

 one, two, three, four, or i'lve kernels were planted per hill, the whole number of kernels 

 planted per acre remaining the same, provided the land was kept equally clean. 



In 189i», where the corn was idanted in both hills and drills and given an equal 

 amount of cultivation, which kept the corn in hills cleaner than the corn in drills, 

 the result was decidedly in favor of the corn in hills. In 1888 there was no practical 

 ditierence. 



During the 3 years no appreciable benefit was derived from frequent cultivation 

 nor from cultivating after the ordinary time. 



For the 3 years the yield of corn has been increased by the shallow cultivation 

 one tenth over the deep cultivation. The least increase in any one season was a 

 little less than one twelfth in 1890 ami the greatest increase one eighth in 1889. In 

 but one case in the 3 years did a dee]i-cnltivated plab yield more than a shallow- 



