SUCKERS AND NUBBINS 



169 



RELATION OF THICKNESS OF PLANTING TO AMOUNT 



OF SUCKERS. 



The efifect of thickness of planting on tillering or suckering is also 

 of importance. A tiller or sucker is simply a lateral branch arising 

 from one of the lower nodes or joints of the corn plant. Through 

 selection and cultivation this habit of corn has been largely overcome 

 in the efifort to produce one strong stalk from each kernel planted, 

 capable of supporting a productive sized ear. While there is some 

 difference in the amount of tillering between different varieties of corn 

 this habit is affected more by the thickness of stand, fertility of the 

 soil and amount of moisture. See the following table. 



TABLE NO. 38 



SHOWING PER CENT OF SUCKERS AS AFFECTED BY THICKNESS OF 



PLANTING 

 (This table shows the number of suckers per 100 plants) 



RELATION OF THICKNESS OF PLANTING TO SIZE AND 

 QUALITY OF EARS. 



Another thing to be considered under thickness of planting pre- 

 viously mentioned in the quality of corn. The per cent of nubbins and 

 worthless ears increases with the thicker planting. 



Aside from a poorer quality of corn from too thick planting it will 

 be remembered also that a large per cent of the nubbins would be left 

 in the field by the average corn picker, thus reducing the actual yield. 

 See the following table. 



TABLE NO. 39 



SHOWING PER CENT OF NUBBINS AND POOR EARS AS AFFECTED BY 

 THICKNESS OF PLANTING 



♦Nebraska Bulletin No. 112. 

 **County Demonstration Reports, Iowa. 



