METHODS OF PLANTING CORN. IS 



in the first chapter to delay the cutting so long that the 

 corn plant becomes too dry, for the reason stated. Silage 

 does not spoil when too wet, but will mold if too dry. 

 Experience will be the best guide, but the foregoing pages 

 should enable the reader to form the right idea as to 

 time for filling, which to secure the best results, is nearly 

 as important as to have material with which to fill the 

 silo. 



Methods of Planting Corn. When the corn crop is 

 intended for the silo, it should be planted somewhat closer 

 than is ordinarily the case when the production of a large 

 crop of ear corn is the primary object sought. Thin seed- 

 ing favors the development of well-developed, strong 

 plants, but not the production of a large amount of green 

 forage. The number of plants which can be brought to 

 perfect development on a certain piece of land depends 

 upon the state of fertility of the land, the character of 

 the season, especially whether it is a wet or dry season, 

 as well as other factors, hence no absolute rule can be 

 given as to the best thickness of planting corn for the 

 silo. Numerous experiments conducted in different parts 

 of the country have shown, however, that the largest 

 quantities of green fodder per acre can ordinarily be ob- 

 tained by planting the corn in hills three or even two 

 feet apart, or in drills three or four feet apart, with plants 

 six or eight inches apart in the row. 



It makes little if any difference, so far as the yield 

 obtained is concerned, whether the corn is planted in 

 hills or in drills, when the land is kept free from weeds 

 in both cases, but it facilitates the cutting considerably 

 to plant the corn in drills if this is done by means of a 

 corn harvester or sled cutter, as is now generally the 

 case. The yield seems more dependent on the number 

 of plants grown on a certain area of land than on the 

 arrangement of planting the corn. Hills four feet each 

 way, with four stalks to the hill, will thus usually give 

 about the same yield as hills two feet apart, with stalks 

 two stalks to the hill or drills four feet apart with stalks 



