CORN 79 



done, however, very long before planting, for if put into large 

 bags the kernels may "heat'' and spoil the vitality. The tips 

 and butts are shelled off and not planted because the planter 

 will not plant them accurately, and usually the tips will not 

 grow so well as the middle kernels. In shelling, the long- 

 kerneled ears should be shelled separately from the short- 

 kerneled ears. The planter plates should be tested so as to 

 get the plate that will drop the desired number of kernels 

 each time. Having found the right size it should be marked 

 so that at planting time no mistake will be made. 



All of this seems like a good deal of care to take with the 

 corn crop, but a big yield cannot be obtained from careless 

 work. The average yield per acre for the corn belt states is 

 near thirty bushels per acre, but many careful farmers are 

 averaging seventy-five bushels, and many frequently raise 

 a hundred bushels per acre. Such farmers take great care in 

 selecting and preparing their seed corn and then use equally 

 as great care in planting and cultivating the crop. 



