30 



Experiment No. 4. — Corn, depth of planting (pp. 96-98). — The object 

 of this experiment was to observe the effect of planting at different 

 depths upon the amount and quality of corn produced. 



" May 4, 1888, six rows, each 8 rods in length, were planted with corn 

 at depths varying from 1 to 6 inches. * * * There were 36 hills in 

 a row, and the rows were 3 feet 8 inches apart. Four kernels of Burr's 

 White dent corn were planted in each hill. The depth was obtained 

 by means of a scale on a dibble." 



Tables are given showing depths of planting, number of hills and 

 plants in each row at dates given, ears and pounds of corn jjer row cal- 

 culated, ears and bushels per acre, and ears per bushel. "So far as 

 planting from 1 to 4 inches is concerned, the results are not at all de- 

 cisive." The general conclusion is thus stated: 



Inasmucli as there is not a direct relationship between the depth of planting and 

 the yield, some accidental cause of variation is indicated ; that is, accidental as re- 

 lates to this experiment. If another season's trial, when the possible error from 

 outside rows is eliminated, gives the best result from planting 3 inches deep, then 

 the present season's results will be of more value. » * * The best depth to plant 

 will depend largely upon the temperature, moisture, and mechanical conditions of the 

 seed-bed at the time of planting — three conditions which are, probably, rarely ex- 

 actly similar in two different places or seasons. In this experiment, these conditions 

 ■were all favorable to the early growth of the corn plant ; and in such a case the depth 

 of planting, between 1 and 4 inches, would make but little difference. 



Experiment No. 5. — Corn, thicJcness of planting (pp. 98-106). — " This ex- 

 periment was conducted with the object of determining the best thick- 

 ness at which to plant corn, and also the best manner of distributing 

 the corn at a given thickness — whether, for instance, it is better to plant 

 three kernels every 3^ feet, or one kernel every 14 inches." 



NUMBER OF STALKS. 



With the same rate of planting, more stalks were produced where but one kernel 

 was planted in a hill ; but there was hardly any diiference whether it was two, three, 

 or four kernels to a hill. 



WEIGHT OF STALKS AND EARS. 



The average weight of one hundred stalks of corn varied from 61 pounds in the 

 first and thickest planting to 150 pounds in the sixth and thinnest planting, there 

 being a somewhat regular although not constant increase from the thickest to the 

 thinnest planting. The average weight of one hundred stalks of stover* varied from 

 40 pounds in the thickest planting to 97 pounds in the thinnest planting, while the 

 weight of one hundred ears raised from 23 pounds to 70 pounds. Bnt the weight of 

 stalks increased more than the weight of ears. 



In this experiment the development of the plant seems to have depended mostly 

 upon the thickness of planting, and but little upon the method of distribution. Al- 

 though there were some very marked variations there was, in general, a great uni- 

 formity of results. To a small extent, however, better development was obtained 

 where two or three kernels were planted to a hill than where one or four kernels 

 were planted. 



* By corn-stover is meant the residue of the mature corn plant after the removal of 

 ears; by corn-fodder, both ears and stalks, as proposed by Professor Armsby, Report 

 of Pennsylvania State College Experiment Station for 1887, Part II., p. 145. 



