234 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



The Connecticut Station ^ found the composition of the crop 

 practically the same, whether planted in hills or drills. Doubt- 

 less in some instances increased yields which have been attributed 

 to planting in drills have been due to increased rate of seeding 

 and not to the method of distribution. Where deep culture is 

 practiced, however, drilling doubtless lessens the injury from 

 root pruning (311), although at the same time tending to increase 

 the growth of weeds. (309) 



307. Distance Apart of Rows. — While a large number of 

 experiments have been made to determine the advisability of 

 planting in hills or drills, but few experiments have been made 

 to determine the best distance or the limit of distance between 

 rows. The distance apart of rows usually varies from three feet 

 six inches or less in the extreme North to six feet or more in the 

 South. Probably more maize planters are sold which plant three 

 feet eight inches apart than any other distance. From experi- 

 ments which have been conducted it is doubtful whether greater 

 yields of dent maize can be obtained with rows three feet six 

 inches apart than with rows three feet eight inches apart, provided 

 the same amount of grain is planted per acre. On the other 

 hand, the labor of cultivation is increased about five per cent. 



The Georgia Station spaced single plants of dent maize four 

 by three feet, five by two and four-tenths feet, and six by two 

 feet, thus securing the same number of plants per acre, and 

 obtained seventeen, sixteen and five-tenths, and sixteen and 

 one-tenth bushels per acre respectively.^ At the Alabama Station ^ 

 slightly better yields were obtained with single plants three feet 

 nine inches apart in rows four feet apart than with single plants 

 three feet apart in rows five feet apart. The station, however, 

 recommends rows five feet apart, both on account of the cheap- 

 ness of cultivation and because it facilitates the raising of a row 



1 Conn. Rpt. 1890, p. 183. 



2 Ga. Bui. 46, p. 68. 



3 Ala. Bui. 88, p. 500. 



