EXERCISE 46 

 ACCURACY OF DROP OF THE CORN PLANTER 



Object. To test the accuracy with which the corn 

 planter drops the kernels of corn. 



Explanation. Nearly every corn planter is equipped both 

 to drill the corn in the row and to plant it in the hill. 

 When the corn planter is set to drill the corn in rows, the dis- 

 tance apart at which the kernels are dropped may be varied 

 by changing the plates in the hopper and by varying the 

 size of the drive wheel that governs the speed of the planter 

 plates. When planting in hills, the planter may be adjusted 

 in the same way to drop from two to six or seven kernels in 

 the hill. Since the yield of corn on a given area of ground 

 is greatly influenced by the stand secured, it is very de- 

 sirable to use a planter that will plant accurately at the 

 proper rate. Before using the planter in the field it should 

 be adjusted to plant at the rate desired and thoroughly 

 tested to make sure that it is planting accurately. 



Equipment. 1. A two-row corn planter. 



2. Four quarts of shelled corn. 



Directions. Adjust the corn planter with the proper 

 plates to drop two kernels in a hill. Place a few handfuls 

 of corn in the hopper. Jack up the planter so that the wheels 

 turn free from the ground. Run the planter slowly by hand 



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