32 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



tively new fertilizers, carbonate and silicate, which it would 

 seem must possess a high degree of availability. 



VII. — Varieties of Ensilage Corn compared. 



The varieties of ensilage corn used in the comparison of 

 potash salts, viz., Eureka, Boston Market, Learning Field 

 and Rural Thoroughbred, were grown under conditions which 

 make it possible to compare them accurately the one with 

 the other ; and this comparison seems worth while, on ac- 

 count of the diversity in the practice of farmers, many of 

 whom cultivate excessively large and late varieties of ensi- 

 lage corn, on account of the heavy yields obtained. The 

 aggregate yield of the varieties under trial was at the follow- 

 ing rates per acre : — 



Pounds. 



Eureka, 47,960 



Boston Market, 38,200 



Learning Field, 34,520 



Rural Thoroughbred, 36,150 



The following notes were taken on the several varieties 

 just previous to harvest : — 



Eureka : a late dent ; average height, about 15 feet ; very 

 heavily leaved ; stalks, 1% to 2 inches in diameter ; ears just 

 forming. 



Boston Market: late dent; height, 11 to 12 feet; stalks, 

 \y<2 to 1% inches in diameter ; ears large, roasting stage ; 

 leaves quite abundant. 



Learning Field : medium dent ; average height, 10 feet ; 

 leaves comparatively few ; stalks medium ; ears large, be- 

 ginning to dent ; the earliest of the four varieties. 



Rural Thoroughbred : late white flint ; average height, 

 about 10 feet; stalks large, many 11/4 inches in diameter; 

 heavily leaved; a few suckers (these increase weight but 

 little, and are troublesome to handle) ; ears large, heavy, 

 often two per stalk ; not quite in milk. 



The Eureka, giving the best yield, at the rate of almost 

 24 tons to the acre, would be preferred by many farmers, 

 but in view of the results of analyses it seems doubtful 

 whether this preference is justified by the facts. The table 

 shows the total food substance per acre afforded by each of 

 the varieties : — 



