CORN 



175 



lower leaves will be dead. The table shows that in the 

 milk stage the corn weighs more than when glazed, but 

 there is 60 per cent more dry matter at the later stage. 

 The difference is water. If put in the silo in the milk stage 

 or when ripe, the corn does not keep so well as when 

 glazed: 



YIELD OF CORN WHEN CUT AT DIFFERENT STAGES' 



The large weight in the milk stage deceives many per- 

 sons as to the best variety to grow. Farmers in the North 

 often grow a variety that does not become glazed before 

 frost. Such a variety may grow very large, but the yield 

 of dry matter will not be so great as that of a variety that 

 matures to this stage before frost. The larger the variety 

 the better, so long as this stage is reached. 



Kven if the right variety is planted in northern United 

 States, there will be short seasons when it will be in dan- 

 ger of frosts. If there is danger of a frost, will it pay to 

 cut the corn, or will it be better to wait for it to mature 

 and risk the frost? The Vermont Station tested this mat- 

 ter. Part of a field was cut October 7, when a frost was 

 expected. The remainder was allowed to grow until 

 October 23, when it was killed by a hard frost. The two 



New York State Station, Report, 1889. 



