84 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



paragraph on storage, is not to be desired in any event. 

 Seemingly high yields at husking time may result in a 

 much lower yield of inferior quality when properly dried 

 out. Each farmer can with little time and expense 

 conduct on his farm a variety test that will answer the 

 question as to which variety is the most profitable for him 

 to grow. A small plot may be laid off in the corner of 

 the regular field and planted with several different varie- 

 ties along with his own. A comparison of the yield of 

 mature corn at harvest will decide the question. In a 

 small plot two rows may be planted from one variety, 

 the next two rows from another, and so on. It is neces- 

 sary, however, to have some standard by which to measure 

 the new varieties. This is best done by planting each 

 fourth plot with home grown seed. This will serve as a 

 check or standard with which to compare the new varieties. 

 If it is not desirable to lay off the small area, the test can 

 be made by planting a round with the planter through the 

 field with one variety, and the next round with the seed 

 of another, and so on. Each fourth round should be 

 planted with home grown seed in order to note variations 

 in soil, and to have a standard for comparison. Marked 

 variations will usually be seen in a variety test in the 

 general character of the plants, the date at which the 

 tassels and silks appear, the time of maturity, and in 

 yield. Professor C. G. Williams suggests the following 

 method of determining the yield : " In determining the 

 yield per acre, each variety is compared with the check 

 plots between which it grew, the number of bushels by 

 which it exceeds or falls short of the check is determined, 

 and this excess or shortage added to or subtracted from 

 the average yield of all of the check plots." The variety 

 that gives the highest yield of mature corn of good quality 



