26 



report covers the work for 1889 a lul 1890. In both seasons the core 

 I)hiuted was a common medium yellow dent variety. No manure was 

 applied in 1890. On eijjfht manured as compared witb four unmanured 

 plats, barnyard manure (about ten loads per acre) tjave an increase of 

 about to per cent in 1889 and 33 per cent in 1890 in the yield of corn 

 and fodder. Horse manure gave better results than cattle manure. 



A coriipaiisuii of the solid and liquid inauure from cattli' wlieii both were saved 

 totjether, and an iMjual wiij^lil of solid manure alone, showetl the larj^etst yield for the 

 2 years from the plat havinj; the liquid manure saved with the solid. Plowing 

 under {jave better results than any other method of a|>plyin^ tested. No benelit was 

 derived from the use of salt, lime, or laud plaster, while wood ashes j^ave a material 

 iucrease of crop. la the trial of comaiercial fertilizers the iucrease AHsuot sutlicient 

 to warrant the expense. Id these trials corn responded more readily to au applica- 

 tion of potash than either phosphoric acid or nitrogen. 



Pfeparation of soil for ^>/r(/{fj/<g. — Tbese and the remaining experi- 

 ments reported in this bulletin were conducted on an upland clay loam 

 with a clay subsoil. As a rule, tenth-acre i)lats were used. "The 

 variety of corn grown in 1889 was St. Ciiarles White, a large, late- 

 maturing white dent, and in 1890 Cuban (^)netn, a small, early-maturing 

 yellow variety." 



The trial of fall and spring plowing for carrots and corn resulted in a draw. In the 

 test of thorough, little, and no plowing for corn for the *J years, there was no dilVerence 

 in the yield. The plat having no preparation yielded more corn in It^^i* than either 

 of those that had been prepare<l, and less iu 1890. A comparison of deep and shallow 

 plowing for corn in 18U0 showed a gain of 4.8 bushels per acre or 11. "J percent in 

 favor of shallow plowing. Depth, 4 inches for the shallow and 10 inches for the deep 

 plowing. 



Subsoiling showed no gain in l-<"0 for ruta-bagas, uor iu l"^i>0 fi»r corn. In both 

 seasons the trial was made on tile-drained laiul, where subsoiling is supposed toshow 

 to the best advantage. 



In ISS'J a period of excess. ve rainfall, extending from May 15 to June 1, brought 

 out soujo interesting facts in the growth of the corn planted on ditlerently prepared 

 plats. 



During the time the soil w.as completely saturated with water the [tlaiits on the 

 thoroughly prei)ared land made little or no growth, beca'.iu! pale, and ap]iarently 

 sulVered materially. The plants on the plat having Ufi preparation coiitinue<i to grow 

 vigorously and maintain a rich, healthy color. This was less marked on the plat 

 having partial i»re|>aratiiin, the plants appearing to occupy an intermediate position, 

 as it were. There is no material ditlereuce iu the surface drainage of the plat.s. 

 The wet weather was followed by a drouth ami excessive temperature, tluriug which 

 time the order of growth was completely reversed — the jdants on the thorimghly 

 prepared land making a good growth and showing the ellectsof the drouth much less 

 than on either of the other plats. 



Distance and thickness of planting. 



An average of the two seasons" work shows no ditferenco in the yield from planting 

 :{ feet inches apart each way with 2, .?, or 4 grains in a hill. When planted either 

 thicker or thinner there w.is a decreased yield, which in the cjvse of thicker planting 

 was accompanied by a material increase iu the per cent of nubbins. 



Cultivation of corn. 



A trial of deep and shallow tillage gave au increase of 14.3 bushels per acre, or'il.7 

 per cent of the whole yield ni favor of shallow tillage in 1883, and an increase for 



