68 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



56. Testing the seed. — When a farmer refers to a 

 ' stand " of corn, he has in mind the relation of the number 

 of stalks of corn actually growing in a given area, say an 

 acre, to the number he had intended to have when planting 

 the seed. For example, if the farmer has planted 12,000 

 kernels per acre, he would like to have 12,000 plants 

 grow to maturity. However, if only 9,000 plants result 

 from the 12,000 kernels planted, he says that there is 

 three-fourths or 75 per cent of a stand. While the farmer 

 that plants 12,000 kernels would hke to have them produce 

 12,000 plants, he is very seldom, if ever, successful in 

 getting that number. It is doubtful if the farmers of 

 the corn belt states, on the average, have over 75 per cent 

 of a stand. That is to say, if he plants 100 q,cres of corn 

 and only gets 75 per cent of a stand, then there are 25 acres 

 of the hundred that are not growing any corn. The grower 

 has plowed, prepared, and planted the 25 acres, but does 

 not receive full value for his labor. While 75 per cent of 

 the stand spread over 100 acres will doubtless give a 

 greater yield of corn than the same number of stalks on 

 75 acres, it will not in all probability give as great a yield 

 as a 100 per cent stand on 100 acres. 



There are many reasons why the farmer does not secure 

 a perfect stand of corn, chief among which are : cut-worms, 

 wire-worms, crows, poorly plowed and carelessly prepared 

 seed bed, and poor seed corn. Probably the most common 

 cause is that of poor seed. If one ear in which the kernels 

 are dead is planted, it will mean a loss of 800 stalks which 

 should produce 800 ears of corn. It is important, there- 

 fore, that only that corn be planted that will produce a 

 strong, vigorous sprout. Careless handling of seed corn 

 in the fall and winter is usually responsible for lack of vi- 

 tality. While ears having weak or dead kernels can some- 



