No. 4.] CORN AS A GRAIN CROP. 351 



stable, Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire. 

 The average increases in crops caused by the several fertilizer elements 

 were at the following rates per acre: — 



Shelled Grain 

 (Bushels). 



Stover 

 (Pounds). 



For potash, . 

 For nitrogen, 

 For phosphoric acid, 



11.3 

 4.7 

 3.6 



1,308 

 389 

 162 



On one farm in Hadley, on the alluvial soil of the Connecticut valley, 

 the potash gave an average increase at the rate of 48 bushels of shelled 

 grain per acre, nitrogen at the rate of 10 bushels, phosphoric acid at 

 the rate of 1.3 bushels. On a farm in Essex County, upon soil under 

 a sufficiently high state of cultivation to produce an average crop at 

 the rate of about 65 bushels per acre without manure or fertilizer of 

 any kind, an application of muriate of potash at the rate of 160 pounds 

 per acre gave an increase in the crop amounting to about 15 bushels; 

 nitrate of soda at the rate of 160 pounds increased the crop at the 

 average rate of only 4.7 bushels; phosphoric acid at the rate of only 

 1 . 4 bushels. In the light of these facts, it is believed that the farmers 

 of the State in raising corn will find it distinctly to their advantage 

 to see to it that the fertilizers used contain more potash than is common 

 in commercial corn fertilizers. The advantages of this practice will 

 show not only in the corn crop, but in the far better clover crops which 

 will follow. 



Planting the Crop. 



One of the first things to be thought of in preparing to plant the 

 corn crop is the preparation of the seed. Seed corn, as is generally 

 understood, keeps far more safely on the cob than shelled. It is not 

 best to shell long before the seed is to be used, although this, of course, 

 may be done provided the ears have been very thoroughly dried. The 

 common practice of shelling off and rejecting the grain both at the 

 tip and butt of the ear is to be strongly recommended. The kernels 

 of these portions of the ear are often abnormal in shape and in size. 

 If they germinate, they are likely to produce more feeble plants than 

 the normal full-sized kernels of the other parts of the ear. Moreover, 

 if the corn is to be planted by machine and in hills, it is a very great 

 advantage to have the kernels of substantially even size and shape, 

 for then the machine can be adjusted to drop precisely the required 

 number, — for example, four kernels to the hill ; and well-made 

 machines will do this in about 95 out of 100 hills, and in the balance 

 of the hills there will be only a very small variation. If, on the other 

 hand, the grain from the tips and butts is included, the number of 

 kernels dropped per hill will be quite uneven. Special treatment of 



