THE CORN CROP IN THE UNITED STATES. 101 



4. The records of the Nebraska Experiment Station show that 31 

 farmers reported an average yield of 34.5 bushels of corn per acre before 

 seeding to clover and alfalfa and 68.2 bushels after crops of these legumes. 

 What was the profit per acre before and after at 42.4c per bushel, allow- 

 ing s!2 per acre as cost of production? 



5. What would be the profit of a farmer who produces just double 

 the amount of the average corn crop of the corn belt (30.9) at a cost of 

 $14.63 per acre with corn bringing the average price, $42.4c? 



6. If the average production of corn in Ohio for 1912 was 38 

 bushels per acre on 3,000,000 acres, what would be the gain in Ohio, if the 

 production could be raised to 50 bushels per acre, with corn selling for 

 50 cents per bushel? 



SEEDING PROBLEMS. 



Selecting and breeding for high yielding ears and proper care 

 for the selected ears are among the most important problems of 

 corn production. 



1. The United States Department of Agriculture in 1910 conducted 

 an experiment with four bushels of corn that were harvested and divided 

 into two equal parts ; one part was well dried and kept in a dry seed 

 house, and the other part was kept in an ordinary seed crib; both kinds 

 were planted in rich bottom land. The well-preserved seed produced 

 18 bushels more per acre or 27 per cent, more than the cribbed seed. 

 What was the yield of the poorer seed? 



2. On poor upland the same experiment as in problem one resulted 

 as follows : The well-preserved seed produced 12 per cent, more than the 

 crib seed. At that rate what would a farmer lose by planting 10 acres 

 with the poor seed if his yield was 30 bushels per acre? 



Selecting the Seed Ear. , 



After having determined the type of corn that it is desired 

 to plant, the next important step is the study of ear character- 

 istics ; scientific selection is based upon the following facts : 



1. The best selection can be made from standing corn. 



2. The value of the ear depends upon the environment of the stalk. 



3. The maturity of the ear is influenced by the character of the soil. 



4. If a field has different types of soil, it is necessary to know from 

 what part of the field each ear is selected. 



5. Every ear should be true to the breed type. 



6. The type should stand the test for maturity, and market 

 requirements. 



7. There should be uniformity of butts, tips, color, size and length 

 of ears. 



