48 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



VARIETY TEST OF CORN. 



Last spr ng, the Agricultural Department secured seed from more than 

 ninety different sources. The corn was all collected from farmers living 

 within a radius of ten miles from Ames. In order to secure samples of corn 

 actually planted, the farmers were visited and the corn taken either directly 

 from the planter boxes in the field or from the sacks from which the seed 

 corn was being planted. 



The samples were planted by hand, three kernels per hill, and the experi- 

 ment was repeated three times and treated alike in every respect, throughout 

 the season. 



The following table gives the yield per acre of the six highest yielding 

 samples and also of the six lowest yielding samples: 



Six Highest Yielding Samples. Bushel Per Acre. 



SampleNo. 59 80.5 



Sample No. 58 80.0 



SampleNo. 66 78.5 



SampleNo. 71 77.0 



Sample No. 138 75.0 



SampleNo. 68 75.0 



Average 77. 5 



Six Lowest Yielding Samples. Bushel Per Acre. 



SampleNo. 44 31.5 



SampleNo. 132 33.5 



SampleNo. 36 34.5 



SampleNo. 32 36.6 



SampleNo. 29 37.5 



SampleNo. 33 40.0 



Average 35. 6 



Note particularly the wide range in yield from 80.5 bushels per acre to 

 31.5 bushels, or a difference of 49 bushels. The average yield of the six 

 highest samples was 77.5 bushels, while the average of the six lowest yield- 

 ing samples was 35.6 bushels, or a difference of 41.9 bushels per acre. 



This great difference in yield was due largely to the difference in vitality 

 of the seed, a? in every case the low yielding samples had given a poor stand . 

 It strongly emphasizes the great importance of knowing that the seed to be 

 planted will give a good, strong, vigorous germination. 



TESTING EACH EAR OF CORN. 



There is, perhaps, no one thing which will do so much to increase the 

 yield of corn on every farm as the testing of each ear to be used for seed. 

 This should be done before the rush of spring work begins or it is apt to be 

 neglected. 



The importance of discarding ears that refuse to grow or show a weak 

 germination is apparent when we realize that one ear will plant one-four- 

 teenth to one-sixteenth of an acre. 



The most practical way for testing the germination of each ear is by 

 using a germination box. This is a simple affair and can be made by any- 

 one in an hour's time. Any box about six inches deep and 2x3 feet in size 



