563 



grown nnder conditions as nearly similar as possible. The average results of the 

 examination of G or 'J stalks will usually give a fairly correct basis for comparison. 

 Work of this nature has been done during 1SS9 and 1890, under very similar condi- 

 tions of soil, cultivatiou, time of planting, etc., but with different varieties. 



[In IH89, Eduumds, an early-maturing yellow deut variety, was used; in 1890, 

 Burr's White, a uiedium-maturiug variety.] 



A condensed table shows that corn planted the first week of May reached its maxi- 

 mum lieight (about 10 feet) August 5 in 1889, and July 21 in 1890. In each year a 

 growth of '25 inches was made in 7 days; July 8 to 15, in 1889, and June 2.3 to 30, in 

 1H90. In the latter year a growth of 48 inches was made in 14 days, from June 1(5 to 

 June :50. With the average temperature nearly the same, but with 2 inches greater 

 rain-fall in May, 1889, than in May, 1890, the corn made much less growth during the 

 month in the former year. With the average tem[)orature 9 degrees lower and the 

 rain-fall much greater in June, 1889, than in June, 1890, the corn had not half the 

 height at the end of the mouth in the former that it had in the latter year. With 

 the average temperature nearly the same, but with a much greater rain-fall in July, 

 1839, than in July, 1890, the growth in the latter year was much more raj)id. 



The results each year show that the quantity of solid or dry matter in the corn 

 plant is relatively very small in the early stages of its growth. When the corn had 

 reached lialf its total height it had bul about 7 jier cent, and when in full tassel, about 

 36 per cent of its maximum weight of dry matter. When the kernels were in the 

 soft milk stage the plants contained about 62 per cent of the maximum weJTht of 

 dry matter in 1889 and about 78 per cent in 1890. In 1889 there was a continuous 

 increase of weight, with but a single exception, until the corn was ripe. In 1890 there 

 •was greater variation, but the greatest weight was at the final cutting, when the 

 coru was thoroughly ripe. Some of the variations near the close of the season are 

 partly explained by the dropping of the dried leaves and tassels. 



In Experiment No. 71 (corn fodder, effect of ripeness) an early-maturing variety 

 of dent Cf^rn was planted May 5, 1890. One plat was cut when in the milk or roast- 

 iug-ear stage, one when the kernels were dented and fairly hard, and one when the 

 corn was fully ripe. The weights for equal plats when thoroughly field-cured were 

 1,328, 1,710, and 1,810 pounds. The weights of the ear corn from three plats, each 

 one tenth of an acre, were 302..50, 425.75, and 475.25 pounds. The weights were 

 determined of several samples of 100 kernels each from the corn on these three plats, 

 and found to be 19, 29, and 31 grams per 100 kernels. 



The indications of these trials clearly are that, so far as quantity of dry matter is 

 concerned, there is a great loss in cutting coru before it is fairly matured, whether it 

 is designed for field-cured fodder or for silage; that to cut it for soiling or summer 

 feeding, even when it is in tassel, is to lose more than half its possible food supply; 

 that to cut it when the kernels are in the soft milk stage causes a loss of one fourth 

 or more of the possible yield of dry matter ; that the dry matter of the corn kernels 

 increases relatively more than that of the stalks in the later periods of growth. 



Other considerations will greatly afiect the decision as to the best time for cutting. 

 This preliminary report does not take account of the digestibility or palatability of 

 the fodder at different stages of maturity, nor of the greater or less degree of loss in 

 curing or from exposure, as afl'ected by cutting at earlier or later stages. In case wet 

 weather follows the cutting, the immature corn would probably be most injured. 

 In some years coru cut when in the milk stage and left in the field iu ordinary- 

 sized shocks would become unfit for food. On the other hand, the longer the corn is 

 left uncut the greater the danger of injury from storms or from the loss of leaves, etc. 

 When fed fresh, the immature coru is usually very palatable— -much more so than 

 when dried. In some cases, at least, the earlier cut corn fodder is less palatable 

 when dried than is that cut when more mature. 



