1912.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 227 



water. This fact is especially evidenced by the Eureka and 

 Klondike which, while they gave high yields of green material, 

 did not show the highest production of dry matter. 



Morrow,^ as a result of four years' observations, states that 

 in no year was there more than half the total amount of dry 

 matter when the plant had reached its full height, and not more 

 than 75 per cent, of the maximum when the ears were in dough 

 stage. Ladd,- as a result of a two years' experiment, found the 

 greatest weight of green fodder to be between the period of full 

 silking and milky stage of kernel, and that while the total weight 

 diminished after this date the total dry matter increased. Our 

 own results, corroborated by those of other investigators, indi- 

 cate that such varieties as the Twitchell, Sanford, Longfellow, 

 Pride of the North (in one case) and Rustler can be consid- 

 ered as having reached a maximum weight in dry matter under 

 the conditions in which they were grown. The remaining varie- 

 ties, with the exception of the Eureka, would surely have in- 

 creased in dry matter and decreased in total weight had their 

 growing season been longer, while the Eureka would probably 

 have increased in both total weight and dry matter. On account 

 of their high water content and less mature condition the last 

 8 varieties in the preceding table cannot be considered as valua- 

 ble pound for pound as the more mature types. 



Ejfect of Season on Yield. 

 The following data, taken from the Massachusetts Crop He- 

 port, will show the weather conditions for the years during 

 which the corn was grown : — 



1904. Season, as a whole, cool and dry which made corn unusually 

 late and poorly ripened. 



1906. Season, as a whole, warm, especially in July and AugiTst. 



Good rainfall in June and July, hot and humid weather in 

 August, with warm, dry weather the first part of September. 

 The weather conditions were very favorable for corn and 

 the crop ripened exceedingly well. 



1907. Season, as a whole, hot and dry. August being the hottest 



month for thirty-six years. A late spi'ing, together with 

 succeeding dry weather, hindered the development of the 

 crop which was below normal. 



■ Bui. No. 25, 111. Exp. Sta., p. 200. 



» Eighth Ann. Rept., N. Y. Exp. Sta., p. 90. 



