Maximum Limit of Productiveness for Maize 187 



MAXIMUM LIMIT OF PRODUCTIVENESS FOR MAIZE 



In order that some idea of the possible maximum yields of 

 maize per acre might be formed, we have gone into the field, 

 when the corn was mature, and selected 40 of the largest stalks 

 bearing the largest ears we could find, and have determined the 

 water -free matter in both ears and stalks, in order to secure a 

 measure of the mean maximum adult plant to use as a basis of 

 computation for this problem. The results were these: 



40 stalks of Pride of the North maize contained 15.6 Ibs. water-free substance. 



40 ears " 16.1 " 



40 " " 13.7 " shelled corn. 



40 " " " " 2.4 " cobs. 



Using these data, we may compute the maximum possible 

 yields per acre where different degrees of closeness of planting are 

 adopted, supposing that every plant produces a maximum -sized 

 stalk, bearing a maximum ear corresponding with the data above. 



Then maize planted in hills 4 feet x 4 feet, and 4 stalks in a 

 hill, or in drills 4 feet x 1 foot, might yield 8,630 pounds dry mat- 

 ter, 3,730 pounds kiln-dried shell corn, equal to 66.61 bushels, or 

 73.27 bushels when containing 10 per cent of moisture. 



With maize planted in hills 44 inches x 44 inches, 4 stalks in 

 a hill, or 44 inches x 11 inches in drills, the maximum yield per 

 acre would be 10,270 pounds dry matter, 4,439 pounds kiln-dried 

 shelled corn, equal to 79.27 bushels, or 87.2 when containing 10 

 per cent of moisture. 



Maize planted 42 inches x 42 inches, 4 stalks in a hill, or in 

 drills 42 inches x 10.5 inches, might yield 11,270 pounds of water- 

 free matter and 4,871 pounds of kiln -dried shelled corn, equal to 

 87 bushels, or to 95.7 bushels when containing 10 per cent of 

 moisture. 



Maize planted 36 inches x 36 inches, 4 stalks in a hill, or in 

 drills 36 inches x9 inches, might yield 15,340 pounds of dry matter 

 and 6,600 pounds of kiln-dried shelled corn, equal to 118.4 

 bushels, or to 130.27 bushels when containing 10 per cent of water. 



