512 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



EXPERIMENT STATION WORK. a. 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin 360. 



DISTANCE BETWEEN CORN HILLS.* 



The distance at which corn is planted in check rows has been decreased 

 by several inches since the first machine planters were put upon the mar- 

 ket. It has evidently been the opinion of farmers, and agricultural im- 

 plement manufacturers as well, that the distances formerly used allowed 

 more space than necessary to each hill, and that the number of hills per 

 acre was smaller than could be produced to the best advantage. Distance 

 experiments with corn by the experiment stations and others have been 

 numerous and the results have varied. This would seem to indicate that 

 distance between rows is influenced by different factors, such as soil, sea- 

 son, locality, variety, and that, therefore, no certain distance can be uni- 

 versally the best. Further light has been thrown on this subject hy a 

 series of tests conducted from 1903 to 1907 by the Illinois Experiment Sta- 

 tion in different sections and on different soils in Illinois. The purpose of 

 this work was to determine the distance at which check rows of corn re- 

 turned the highest and most profitable yields, and whether planting two 

 kernels per hill at closer distances is better than three kernels at greater 

 distances. 



The thickness of planting was varied by increasing or decreasing the 

 distance between rows in both directions. The hills were checked on dif- 

 ferent plats at distances ranging from 33 to 44 inches, the intermediate 

 distances being 39.6 and 36 inches. The different series were repeated 

 many times each year, in order to equalize differences of soil and season 

 and to make the averages more nearly true. Variations in stand were 

 eliminated so that all parts in the same series were comparable with each 

 other. Attention is called to the fact that with a stand of 100 per cent, 

 hills checked 44 inches apart with two kernels per hill, an acre produces 

 6,480 stalks; checked 39.6 inches apart, 8,000 stalks; 36 inches apart, 9,- 

 680 stalks; and 33 inches apart, 11,520 stalks. If three kernels instead of 

 two are planted per hill, the number of stalks per acre for the different 

 distances is 9,720, 12,000, 14,520 and 17,280, respectively. 



The average results secured in northern Illinois showed that generally 

 on the two-kernel, as well as on the three-kernel, plats, the average 

 yields increased toward the thicker plantings. On the two-kernel plats 

 the average yields for 1904 to 1907, inclusive, increased from 44.1 bushels 

 per acre for the 44 by 44 inches, or widest planting, to 54.3 bushels for 

 the second thickest, or 33 by 36 inch planting while where three kernels 

 were planted per hill the widest planting produced on an average 54.1 

 bushels, which increased as the distance was narrowed down to 61 bushels 



a. A progTPss recorrl of experimental inquiries?, piiblishert without assumption 

 of responsibility by the department for the correctness of the facts and con- 

 clusions reported by the station. 



*Compiled from Illinois Station Bulletin 126. 



