1070 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The crop of corn, J. A. Jkkfeky {Mirliigdu Sl<i. Spec Bui. '2:2^ pp. Ifj^firp. 2). — 

 Tliis pHpiilui- Imlli'tiii prcMfntw statisticH on corn j>ro(lnction, iioints out the value and 

 uses of the crop, and discnsscK l)rieHy nicthodK of culture and improvement. A 

 serieH of questions with reference to the production, value, uses, and culture of com 

 are given "to arouse in the reader a desire to answer some things for himself." The 

 bulletin is intended for upe in the study of the corn crop. 



"What kind of corn shall be planted for silage? J. L. Hills ( Vcrinovl Stn. lipt. 

 190.i, pp. 284-287). — Four varieties, Sanford, lied Col), Learning, and a dent corn 

 variety from Virginia were grown in 1900 and 1901 on different kinds of soil. San- 

 ford is a relatively small flint corn, while the other varieties are of a larger type. 

 As compared with Sanford \\w larger varieties produced from 50 to 70 per cent more 

 gross weight, but an average of only 10 per cent more dry matter. 



In the silo Sanfoj'd and Red Cob, the drier varieties, lost only 2 per cent in total 

 weight, while Learning and the Virginia Dent corn lost 20 per cent. The loss of dry 

 matter in Sanford and Red Cob silage was slight, while in the other 2 varieties it 

 amounted to 14 per cent. Sanford silage in a feeding test with dairy cows proved to 

 be a ])etter milk producer than silage from the larger varieties. Analyses of the dif- 

 ferent varieties as they were harvested and as they came from the silo show that San- 

 ford was a little richer in protein and contained a much larger i)roi)ortion of the 

 desirable and a smaller proportion of the less desirable carbohy<lrati's than the other 

 varieties. It is believed that owing to the greater maturity of the Sanford its dry 

 matter contained less potash than the dry matter of the other sorts. 



Crops for the silo, A. M. Soule and J. R. Fain {Tennessee Sta. Bui. Vol. XVII, 

 No. 1, pp. 24, figs. 9). — In the introduction the authors compare the carrying capacity 

 of land when grazed and when jiroducing silage crops, and note briefly the merits of 

 different plants grown for silage, of which corn and sorghum are considered the most 

 important. The results of exiieriments to determine the cost of cultivating silage 

 crops and the cost of producing silage are reported. 



Sorghum and corn and sorghum were planted in rows 2, 2^, 3, Si ft. apart. Corn 

 and soy beans were grown in rows 3 and 2 ft. apart, respectively. The average cost 

 of a ton of silage from sorghum, corn, corn and sorghum, and soy beans was $1.41, 

 $2, $1.86, and $2.83, respectively. The yield varied considerably with the distance 

 of planting. While the largest yield of sorghum, 19.8 tons per acre, was obtained 

 from the closest planting, it is believed that 3-foot rows for sorghum, corn, and corn 

 and sorghum are more desirable, when the convenience and cost of cultivation are con- 

 sidered. The cost of growing an acre of sorghum, corn, corn and sorghum, and soy 

 beans for silage was $19.48, $14.92, $19.14, and $19.8(>, respectively. 



Cocke Prolific and Virginia Ensilage corn were grown for 3 years on a total area 

 of 40.93 acres. The largest yields were obtained from 3-foot rows. These varieties 

 matured on an average in 108 days and produced 7.15 tons per acre at a cost of $2.21 

 per ton. It is estimated that in favorable seasons the cost of producing corn silage 

 need not exceed $1.50 per ton. 



During the last 4 years a total of 32.96 acres of sorghum was grown at the station 

 and the silage obtained from the crops was produced at an average cost of $1.52 per 

 ton. Of the varieties grown Red Head, partly because it stands up well, proved to 

 be one of the best for silage purposes. The average rate of seeding in these tests was 

 7.3 lbs. per acre, and the average number of days required for the crops to mature 

 113. It is stated that as a first crop sorghum will yield from 12 to 20 tons per acre, 

 while from the second crop not more than from 8 to 9 tons can be expected. The 

 cost of silage per ton from first crops ranged from $1.15 to $1.78. The average cost 

 from second crops was about $2.80. Red Head sorghum and Virginia Ensilage corn 

 were grown in combination with satisfactory results. 



The effects on the quality of silage, the yield, and the cost of production were all in 

 favor of growing these crops together, as compared with corn alone. Grown in com- 



