134 



MAIZE 



CHAP. 



V. 



Table XVIII. 

 SUMMARY OF PERCENTAGE STANDS. 



1 This figure may be on the low side, but we find that where the plants are 

 crowded together in hills, the ears are smaller and the average yield per ear less 

 than when planted in continuous rows ; it is doubtful, however, whether the 

 difference in results obtained by the two methods of planting is quite as great 

 as the difference here allowed. 



Messrs. Hutchinson and Shaw kept count of the yield from 

 these several fields and found that they averaged very close 

 to the estimate which had been made of them, except in one 

 case of subsequent damage to the crop. 



In a number of rows tested promiscuously in different 

 fields, in another part of the country, the stand percentage was 

 found to average 65 'i per cent, ranging from 53 per cent to 93 

 per cent. Where much damage has been done by hail, the 

 stands (in individual rows) ranged from 19 per cent to 54 per 

 cent and averaged only 38^4 per cent. Planted 3 feet 4 inches 

 between the rows and 1 foot 6 inches in the rows, a full stand 

 would carry 8,712 maize plants, which on an average of 7 ozs. 

 of grain per ear (not an excessive amount to expect) should 

 produce 19 muids per acre. A stand of 65 'I per cent carries 

 5,671 plants which with the same weight of grain per ear 

 should yield 12-4 muids per acre, while a stand of 38-4 per 

 cent would produce only 7-31 muids. 



Poor stands may thus mean a loss of eight bags, or 64s. 

 per acre, even where the crop has been considered a good one. 



