264 MAINE AGRICULTURAL, e;xPe;RIME:NT STATION. I91O. 



The size of Plot I was 300 x 150 feet, or, after allowing for 

 paths, etc., there was exactly one acre in sweet corn. In Plot 

 II the dimensions Were 200 x 200 feet. Plot I included 100 

 rows. The rows ran approximately east and west and were 

 in two sections, 50 rows in each. A path two hills wide was 

 left in the middle of the field between the two sections. Plot 

 II included 66 rows, also running approximately east and west. 

 In both plots the rows were 3 ft. apart, and the hills 18 inches 

 (approximately) apart. On Plot I, iioo lbs. of Bradley's Corn 

 Phosphate was used, and on Plot II 900 lbs. The fertilizer was 

 applied with a corn planter which dropped it in hills approxi- 

 mately 18 inches apart. The coverers were removed from the 

 planter. This left the fertilizer partially mixed with the soil and 

 exposed in the hill. Then the seed was planted by hand, 3 ker- 

 nels to a hill. Each row was planted with the seed from one 

 single ear, and a record kept of the ear used for that particular 

 row. Plot I was planted May 19, 1908, and Plot II May 20, 

 1908. In both plots the seed bed was in excellent condition at 

 the time of planting; the soil was well pulverized, warm and 

 dry. Plot II was a little more moist when planted than Plot 

 I but was not too damp to plant. 



On May 28, 1908, the corn in Plot I was coming up nicely; 

 Plot II was not so far along at this time, but scattered hills 

 were up. Plot I gave an excellent even stand. Plot II did not 

 do so well in this regard. Some rows in particular had a num- 

 ber of missing hills. After the corn was well up it was culti- , 

 vated once a week by running a one-horse cultivator between 

 the rows. It was hoed by hand twice. At the siecond hoeing, 

 when the stalks were 12-14 inches tall it was thinned so as to 

 leave one plant to the hill. It should not be understood that 

 such a degree of thinning is to be recommended. It was done 

 in this case merely because it was desired to be able to study in 

 detail each individual plant. This can be done most advan- 

 tageously with only one plant to the hill. 



The season of 1908 was a favorable one for growing sweet 

 corn except for the prolonged and severe drought, which was 

 the worst experienced for many years in the part of the State 

 where the experimental plots were located. Fortunately the 

 corn in these plots was not so badly injured as much of that in 

 nearby localities. 



