The Grasses Including Indian Corn. 



161 



the kernels at such distance apart as will allow each individual plant 

 to produce full-sized ears. No rule can be given which is appli- 

 cable to all cases as to the amount of seed to be planted per acre. 

 This varies greatly and is determined by local conditions. One must 

 know accurately the capacity of his land for corn, and seed ac- 

 cordingly, bearing in mind that thick seeding gives the most total 

 nutrients, largely as roughage, while thinner seeding gives the most 

 sound grain. 



211. Distribution of nutrients.— Armsby of the Pennsylvania Sta- 

 tion,^ studying the returns of the corn crop reported by experiment 

 stations in four states, found the yield of ears and stover to be as 

 follows : 



The above shows that in the northern states somewhat more than 

 half the total weight of the corn crop when grown for grain is found 

 in the ears. The following table, arranged from Armsby 's study, 

 shows the location of the digestible nutrients: 



The table shows that in a crop of ripened corn about 75 per ct. 

 of the digestible crude protein is found in the ears and 25 per et. in 

 the stover. Of the total digestible nutrients, about 63 per ct,, or 

 two-thirds, appears in the ears, and 37 per ct., or one-third, in the 

 stover. These figures should not be regarded as rigid, for the ratio 

 of grain to stalk will vary with the crop and section of the country. 



' Rpt. 1887. 

 12 



