PMEPARATION AND PLANTING 



179 



ECONOMIC VALUE OF TILLERS 



124. The question often arises as to whether tillers 

 should be pulled when they appear in abundance. Data 

 were taken at the Nebraska station for five years, and in 

 every case the yield was decreased by removing tillers. 

 For three years the corn was planted at different rates, the 

 data being summarized as follows : — 



TABLE XLII 



Effect on Yield of Grain op removing Tillers from Corn 

 Three-Year Average (1906-1908) 



Tillers appear to develop in response to the needs of the 

 crop, in an attempt to bring the stand up to normal. 

 When the stand is maximum, few tillers develop. The 

 occasions are certainly very rare when it would pay to 

 remove tillers. 



OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTION OF TILLERS 



125. On some soils tillers do not develop even when the 

 planting is thin. When early growth is slow or retarded, 



