38 



similar experimeuts in iirevions years. The description of the experi- 

 ments themselves is prefaced by a weather summary for the growing sea- 

 son of 1888, and a brief account of the previous cropping, preparation 

 of the soil, date of planting, size and treatment of the plats, etc. The 

 season was so dry as to reduce the yield materially. 



Early and late plantiiuj. — The earliest planting (May 1) gave the low- 

 est yield. Tlie difference between the second (May 11) and the third 

 (May 21) planting was so small that it may be disregarded. Contiuu- 

 atiou of the experiments through a series of years is necessary to ob- 

 tain averages which will be of practical value. 



Deep and shallow ploicing. — In a two years' trial tlie extra labor in- 

 volved iu deep breakiug (8 inches as compared with 4.^ inches) has not 

 been justified by the increase in the yield of corn. The experiment will 

 be continued. 



Deej), medium, andshalloic culture. — The depths of cu Itivation were one 

 half, two-thirds, and three-fourths inch. The adjustment of the cul- 

 tivator was such that there was very little breaking of corn roots even 

 by the deepest cultivation. There was a little difference in yield in 

 favor of the deepest cultivation, due probably to " the thicker layer of 

 loosened soil — a more perfect mulch to conserve the scanty supply of 

 moisture during the drought which followed." " The results thus far 

 are not very satisfactory." 



Use of different corn cultivators. — " Eepetitiou will be necessary to 

 reach definite conclusions." 



Different 7'ates of planting. — Eesults of a three years' trial with hand 

 and with machine planting at different distances, from hill to hill and 

 with different numbers of kernels in the hill are reported. From the 

 tabulated results it appears that with the hand planting "■ the propor- 

 tion of large corn is greater where the stand is thinner (e. g., two kernels 

 every 24 or 3G inches, or one kernel every 18 inches), but the medium 

 and thicker stands" (e. </., one kernel every 12 inches to kernels every 

 20 to 28, or three kernels every 33 inches) usually produce the larger 

 total yield. With the machine, which in most cases dropped one ker- 

 nel but sometimes two in a place, the largest yield in 1888 was obtained 

 from the thickest stand, lOf inches, the largest average yield for the 

 three years from the next to the thickest stand, 12^ inches from stalk 

 to stalk. 



"On comparing the two series we find that with stalks 12 to 14 inches 

 apart, or with an equivalent stand in hills, the best yields were usually 

 obtained. The proportions of stalk and ear did not vary materially. 

 When the crop is grown chiefly for the grain a moderately thin stand 

 is preferable, as it will ])roduce larger and fewer ears, and thus save 

 labor in gathering. If both stalk and ear are to be fed (and this should 

 be the general rule), the thicker stands will prove more satisfactory, as 

 the yields will not be decreased and the stalks will be eaten with less 

 waste." 



