30 Nebraska Agricultural Exp. Station, Research Bui. 13 
Fig. 7 — A hill of checked corn with the three plants spaced in the hill in 
order that the plants may be readily counted without suckers being 
mistaken for separate plants 
In 1912 the Nebraska Experiment Station commenced a 
series of experiments to determine the reliability of the vari- 
ous kinds of corn test plats. The investigations were extended 
in 1913 but the corn was not harvested because of an almost 
total crop failure due to deficient rainfall. Good results were 
secured in 1914, 1915, and 1916. 
For planting, the land was marked off into hills three feet, 
eight inches apart and the corn planted at double the desired 
rate by means of hand planters. (Fig. 6.) When about four 
inches high the plants were thinned to the desired rate, thus 
producing an almost perfect stand. The plants were spaced 
within the hills so that the original plants could be easily 
distinguished from suckers. For the comparative yield tests, 
