106 DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 
case of this planting. The same results would not necessarily be 
obtained on other kinds of soils or under different climatic condi- 
tions, but the effect of thick planting on the growth of corn plants 
would be similar in all cases. The plant is not able to reach its 
full development by thick planting, and the yields of perfect ears 
obtained by this method are relatively small; the total yields: of 
feed materials secured from a certain ‘area are, however, likely to be 
larger, the thicker the corn is planted, up to a certain limit; in 
the case of the fertile soil investigated, with kernels 3 inches apart 
in the row. Evidently, therefore, where the corn is grown. for 
green feed, for silage, or to be cured as fodder, the best method 
is to plant thick, so that but few perfect ears are formed; con- 
versely, if corn is grown for the sake of the grain, the general 
method of thin planting, say in hills 3144 by 344 feet, will give the 
best results, but a smaller proportion of stocks will be secured. 
Yields of Corn.—Green fodder will yield from about 8 to 20 © 
tons per acre, containing 144 to 4 tons of dry matter; an average 
yield on good land would be about 15 tons of green forage, con- 
taining about 31% tons of dry matter.. This is a considerably larger 
yield of feed materials than can be obtained in case of most other 
soiling crops without irrigation. 
Corn makes an excellent soiling crop in regions adapted to its 
culture, and furnishes a large quantity of feed that is greatly relished 
by cattle and other farm animals. If cut early, say before tasselling, 
it will contain only about 10 per cent of dry matter, while at later 
stages of development toward maturity it will contain 25 to 30 
per.cent of dry matter. It is largely a carbonaceous feed and is low 
in protein (average digestible protein, 1.1 per cent; carbohydrates 
and fat, 16.1 per cent; nutritive ratio, 1:15.1). If fed to dairy 
cows or young stock which require considerable protein, it ‘should 
be supplemented with a mixture of suitable protein feeds, like wheat 
bran, gluten feed, oil meals, dried brewers’ or distillers’ grains, etc. 
Proportions of Nutrients in the Corn Plant—Even when 
corn is grown for the sake of the grain, a considerable proportion 
of feed materials remains in the stalks and becomes available .for 
feeding farm animals. The proportion of ears to stover has been 
determined by a number of experiment stations. The average results 
obtained at four different stations (New Jersey, Connecticut, Penn- 
sylvania, and Wisconsin), are as follows: * 
2 Pennsylvania Report, 1887, 
