143 



MAIZE 



CHAP. 

 V. 



268 ozs. is not a great increase, yet on the basis of 6,534 

 bearing plants it means an increase of Si muids of grain 

 per acre- This increase is 137 per cent of the estimated 

 present average yield of 4 muids per acre. 



But there is no reason why we should be content even with 

 an increase of 2 -68 ozs. of grain. Some breeds show an aver- 

 age increase for ten ears of 4-33 ozs. per ear; we should 

 therefore aim at adding this to the average for the crop. An 

 average increase of 4-33 ozs. per ear is equivalent to 1,764 

 lbs. (8'82 muids) of grain per acre. 



105. Percentage by Weight of Grain and Cob. — Where 

 maize is sold on the cob for feeding to stock, or for seed, as is 

 often the case in the United States, the amount of grain which 

 can be obtained from a bushel or muid of ears is of great im- 

 portance ; as this proportion varies, the price also will fluctuate. 



The following table shows the range of variation in pro- 

 portion of grain to ear in selected ears of certain breeds : — 



Table XXXI. 

 PERCENTAGE OF GRAIN TO EAR. 



1 The maximum for a single ear was 89-62. 



2 There is a possible error in this figure. 



Owing to the lateness of the season when the weights were 

 taken, the dryness of the ears and the looseness of the grain, 



