REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



139 



growth and production of corn. It proves to bo the most important 

 factor, so much so that, wliile the size of the Tennessee kernel is twice 

 as large as that grown in the iforth, the yiekl per acre is less. 



Yield of corn iy groups of States in 1879 and 1883. 

 [J. E. Dodge, Annnal Keport, 1884.] 



Group. 



1879. i 1883. 



Trans-Mississippi States 



New England 



New York, Xew Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 



Ohio basin 



Pifcific slope 



Tlocky 2^Ioimt;iiii region 



Di'lawaro, ilaivland, and Virginia 



Gult'SoiitJiern fetAtes 



37.5 

 34.3 

 33.2 

 32. l> 

 27.4 

 19.5 

 18.6 

 15.6 



20.4 

 33.0 

 25.9 

 25.0 

 24.5 

 18.13 

 10. t; 

 ia.3 



Yield per acre of corn [1379]. 



The above data show that the yield in the South is far inferior to that 

 at the isorth, that a warm climate and long period of growth, wbile 

 producing a large kernel, tends to give a gross plant with but few ears. 

 The differences can hardly be duo to soil, and in fact are far too marked 

 for such an explanation. 



That soil has its due effect is evident from the fact that with much 

 less care and cultivation the newer and richer soils of the trans-Missis- 

 sippi States produce a larger number of bushels to the acre than the 

 more or less worn-out soils of the East. 



From what has been learned in our investigations it is apparent, there- 

 fore, that climatic conditions being favorable, or at least not modifiable, 

 the improvement of our corn crop must be brought about by increasing 

 the pruiliict per acre, the weight per bushel, and the size of the kernel, 

 all physical properties easily watched by the practical farmer. It will 

 not be necessary for him to employ the chemist to determine the chem- 

 ical composition, a.s it will be seen is the case with wheat, owing to the 

 fact that its eonipo-^ition is but slightly affected by environment. All 

 this makes the improvement of our corn crops much more ea.sy of ac- 

 complishment and places it in the hands of every farmer to do some- 

 thing for himself in this line of work. lie has only to select the variety 

 which wOl as far as his experience goes tlouri.^ih best on his soil, and 

 then by careful selection so modify the physical properties as to improve 

 it every year. This is a large field for good practical work. 



