UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 307 



St ■«•■ 



l^ Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 



J^y/''<$£ru WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 



sZfr'^hsu 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



December 14, 1915 



TESTS OF CORN VARIETIES ON THE GREAT PLAINS. 



By L. L. Zook. 



Physiologist, Office of Corn Investigations 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

 I ntroduction 1 



Natural limitations to corn production 1 



Adaptability of varieties 3 



Page. 



Time required for maturity 7 



Results of tests of varieties 8 



Summary of tests 17 



INTRODUCTION. 



This bulletin contains results of varietal tests conducted on dry 

 land and under irrigation at several stations 1 in the Great Plains area. 

 These tests have been conducted for the purpose of studying the 

 possibilities of the region for corn production, to study in what ways 

 the climatic influences would affect different varieties and seed from 

 different localities, and to determine what varieties might offer the 

 best possibilities for further improvement and adaptation to the 

 region. 



The tests have not been conducted for a sufficient length of time 

 to make the results conclusive. They have, however, furnished in- 

 formation regarding varietal differences which is thought to be of 

 sufficient interest to warrant publieation*at this time. 



NATURAL LIMITATIONS TO CORN PRODUCTION. 



The chief limitation to corn production on the Great Plains is that 

 of climate This urea is characterized by scant and uncertain pre- 

 cipitation and short, variable growing seasons. The effects of these 



1 These tests have been conducted by the Office of Corn Investigations at Huntley, Mont., Newell, s. Dak., 

 and Mitchell, Nebr., in cooperation with the Office of Western Irrigation Agriculture; at North Platte, 

 Nebr., fn cooperation with the Nebra ilea Experiment Substation; and at A tron, Colo., In cooperal Ion with 

 tiu Office ol Dry-Land Agriculture. Al the first two stations mentioned the work has been for the most 

 [>;trt conducted by Dan San len and Beyer A une, form superintendents. A t the other stations assistance 

 i K'norr, v. v. linrr, and 0. J. i trace 



Note. Thl i bulletin i ol particular interest to formers, investigators, and teaohei In the Great Plains 

 Boll 807 19 — l 



