122 THE BOOK OF CORN 



ninety-three bushels per acre, while if three stalks are 

 grown in every hill the yield will be one hundred and 

 thirty-nine bushels per acre. 



However, a certain percentage of the stalks in the 

 field are barren, and a large percentage of the ears do 

 not weigh a pound, so that in order to make up the 

 non-uniform condition of the crop, it is the usual prac- 

 tice to plant from three to four stalks per hill. With 

 the ordinary seed it is almost impossible to secure a 

 high percentage of germination, so that in order to 

 make up for this loss in the stand an extra number of 

 kernels are planted. 



Test Germinating Power — Seed com that germi- 

 nates less than ninety-five per cent should not be used. 

 The general vitality of such seed must be low, and 

 poor plants and a small yield will result. The ordinary 

 planter does not drop an even number of kernels to the 

 hill. In such cases some hills undoubtedly have too 

 many kernels, while others do not have any. A poor 

 or uneven stand is the cause of greatest loss to 

 com growers. 



In order to get an even stand, it is necessary to 

 use good seed and a planter which will drop an even 

 number of kernels to the hill. Some of the latest im- 

 proved planters have the plates so arranged that the 

 kernels are dropped one at a time from the seed box 

 to a small receptacle in the runner. This plate is run 

 by a drill attachment so that the kernels drop regularly 

 and uniformly into the runner. When the check lever 

 opens the receptacle the seed for one hill drops directly 

 into the seedbed. By such a machine an even stand can 

 be secured if the seed corn is of uniform size. This 

 arrangement also provides for an even check which 

 is necessary for proper cultivation. This even check 

 can be secured by setting a small stake in the hole made 

 by the wire stake at the end of the field. By sighting 



