966 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The so-called two-eared type of varieties gave larger average yields than the type 

 with the smaller number, but larger-sized ears. Seed of certain varieties from Vir- 

 ginia and Tennessee proved superior to that from Delaware, Illinois, Alabama, and 

 Georgia; but whether this was chiefly due to climate or to more careful selection 

 of the seed corn obtained could not be determined. Early varieties were relatively 

 unproductive, and many of them from northern-growm seed produced a large propor- 

 tion of unsound corn. 



In 6 tests the lower ear used for seed gave a slightly larger yield than the upper 

 ear, but in 2 tests the upper ear gave the better yield. Subsoiling, the depth of the 

 first cultivation, planting in the water furrows, and applying a part of the fertilizer 

 before planting and a part at the second cultivation instead of using it all before 

 planting, did not prove of importance. 



Pulling the fodder slightly decreased the yield of grain. The average yields of dry 

 blades was 515 lbs., of cured tops 473 lbs., and of cured stover 1,799 lbs. per acre. 

 Plowing under velvet bean stubble gave an apparent increase of 4.3 bu. per acre, 

 and where the entire growth was used as a fertilizer the first corn crop was increased 

 by 12.3 bu. and the second by 4.4 bu. Where cowpea vines were plowed under 8.9 

 bu. more per acre was obtained than where only the stubble was used. Plowing 

 under beggar weed which grew after the corn was laid by seemed to have increased 

 the yield per acre by 5.4 bu. Where velvet bean and cowpea vines were plowed 

 under the addition of acid phosphate proved profitable. Nitrate of soda appeared to 

 be a better source of nitrogen than either cotton-seed meal, cotton seed, or barnyard 

 manure. 



Iowa's immature corn, C. Reinbott {Iowa Agr., 6 (1905), No. 1, pp. 16-18). — 

 This article is a synopsis of a thesis on maturity in corn. In the fall of 1904 corn 

 of 3 different grades of maturity was selected on 5 different dates from September 

 20 to November 7. The samples selected were immature undented corn in the milk, 

 medium mature corn with about one-half of the kernels dented, and mature corn 

 with the kernels dented and glazed. The shrinkage of the samples from the time 

 they were harvested until February 1 is recorded. A very appreciable increase in 

 the amount of dry matter as maturity advanced was observed up to October 13. 

 The immature corn, however, continued to store up matter in the grain for the rest 

 of the period of the experiment. 



The effect on the vitality of corn harvested at different stages of maturity was 

 also studied. In thoroughly air-dried husked corn the precentage of strongly ger- 

 minating kernels increased directly in all cases except one with the maturity. In 

 corn left in the shock until late fall the germination was lowered and varied less 

 regularly than in the husked and dried corn. The immature corn harvested Sep- 

 tember 20 had shrunken 58 per cent by February 1, and gave 67.7 per cent of 

 strongly germinating kernels. This high germination was due to thorough drying. 

 It is advised to select matured varieties adapted to the locality and to allow the seed 

 corn to remain on the stalk until quite mature, giving it thorough aeration and dry- 

 ing after harvesting. 



A study of the effect of dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid upon the radi- 

 cles of corn seedling's, F. A. Loew {Reprinted from Bpt. Mich. Acad. ScL, 7 {1905), 

 pp. 50-52). — The experiments here described show that by growing corn seedlings 

 in dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid the amount of acid is reduced. 



The radicles killed in ■ 1 \ z normal hydrochloric acid contained 3.952 per cent of 

 ash, as compared with 7.415 per cent in normal radicles. The ash of the killed radi- 

 cles contained 2.41 per cent of chlorin and that of the normal 8.96 per cent, while 

 for potash the corresponding figures were 34.17 and 38.76 per cent, respectively. 

 Bacteria and fungi thrived in the solution in which the seedlings were killed, but 

 none were perceptible where seedlings were kept in distilled water for 1 week. The 



