93 



in<jf. a knife was run ai'onnd cacli hill at a ilcplli of () inches, and G 

 inches from the stalks." The yields of corn in the ear and of fodder 

 i.re ,i:-i\-en. The root-prnned plats a\"ern,e-ed nearly :> hnshels less of 

 corn and NOO pounds less of fodder i^er acre than the nnpnuieil. The 

 results of another experiment were lost by accident. 



General concliisioiis mid siKji/exfhms ( pj). 'iS-oO). — These are (h'awii 

 from the exi)eriments above reported, from other experiments and 

 observations by the author, and fi-om the u'eneral practice of corn- 

 l!;roAvers. They apply in Minnesota, and include the followinif: 



(1) Fse proper rotations, including' clox'er: economize manures; 

 have i>-ood tillaav and tile draina<iv. 



{■J.) Uefore severe frost select well-developed seeds of lari>vsl dent 

 variety sure to ripen (Hint in noi'thern part of the State) : keep the 

 >(^kh} dry throuii'li the winter: befoi'e plantinii' soak the seed in solu- 

 tion of snll)hale of coj)per (" blue stone ") to prevent snuit. 



{:}) Plow in fall, to furnish more available plant food: secure 

 earlier aiul better seed bed. and relieve sjiriui"' work: ])low stubble 

 .'i to 7 inche.^. clo\'er and u'rass sod 4 to ."> inches deep: in si)rina' the 

 same depth or shallower. Make a fine seed bed ;> inches deej). 



(-I-) Plant in hills or " check-roAVs," unless labor for hoein^- drilled 

 corn is very cheap. 2 to 4^ inches in depth, according as planting is 

 early or late and soil wet (or compact) or dry (or very mellow). 



Planting with two-horse corn planter is excellent; listing does not 

 pay in ^linnesota. 



( .") ) Harrow the corn twice or more ; one good harrowing is worth 

 moi-e than a fifth plowing. Give the last han-owing when the corn 

 is 4 inches high. 



((')) The cultivator should stii' the soil well without breaking many 

 roots. 



(7) Seek to ])r()duce good dent and Hint \arieties. ripiMiing early 

 and cai)al)Ie of withstanding early frosts. 



llniitrji'inij uf fjir coin pJunt {y>\). ■50-3:5). — In connection with ex- 

 periments begini for sttidying the cross-fertilization of corn, notes 

 were made on the habits of growth of the stem, ears, etc., of several 

 xai'ieties. The bi-aiiching and stooling habits of Mercer flint corn 

 and some abnormal forms of growth from other varieties are de- 

 scribed in the text and illustrated by a diagram. Xotes on cross- 

 fertilization of corn are reserved for a future report. 



(iKOWTIl OF KlSSIAX WlI>LOWS AND I'OI'LAKS KHOM IIAI!D-WOOD CT"T- 



rtxos, S. B. (ireen, B. S. (pp. 34, P).")). — A record of experiments with 

 eight species. of poplars and five of willows in the Station nursery in 

 the spring of 1888. The cuttings were made from well-iMi)ened Avood 

 of the i)receding season's growth. Most of the varieties rooted well. 

 l)Ut I'lijiiihis (ill, (I entii'ely failed, as il had done in j)re\iou> expei'i- 

 ments. 'J4ie method of cutting and planting is described and results 

 >howing amount of growth in feet and per cent of cuttings gi-owing 

 are stated in tabular f(H"in. 



