From the New England Homestead for the Week Ending February 20, 1910 
America’s Greatest Corn Yield 
Keen Interest in Corn Growing in New England—What Other Parts of the Country Have Accomplished-*® 
Some Magnificent Records of Corn Yield on Old Soils—A Massachusetts Inquirer Answered— 
Interesting Features Outlined—-Heavy Manuring for Best Results 
Recently I saw an article in The New England 
Homestead where the editor attended the corn 
husking at the Brewer farm, and where he states 
that the yield was 127 bushels shelled corn to the 
acre. Now, I would like to know how anyone 
knows that the yield was as indicated. I would 
go a long distance to see 100 bushels shelled corn, 
honest measure, grown on an acre of land in New 
England. One cannot tell the yield until the fol¬ 
lowing March, when the corn is cured out, unless 
it be kiln-dried. I am something of a sceptic, and 
believe, with the late R. N. Oakman, there was 
never 100 bushels shelled corn, honest measure, 
produced on an acre of New England soil—II. C. 
Haskell, Franklin County, Mass. 
It is not surprising that Mr. Haskell questions 
the report on yields of corn. As a matter of fact, 
the average for the United States is only about 
26 bushels to the acre, and farmers in general con¬ 
sider a crop of 100 bushels ear corn to the acre a 
mighty good one. In this connection, however, let 
it be recalled that back in 1889 was produced the 
prize acre of corn ever grown in America. This 
prize acre gave 255 bushels shelled corn as it came 
from the field. But this was the green weight, the 
product being field dried. Therefore, Dr. W. B. 
Barney, under the direction of J. B. McBryde, 
director of the South Carolina station, analyzed a 
fair sample of the corn and found it contained only 
15% water. Therefore, the 255 bushels of shelled 
corn actually contained 217 bushels dry matter in 
the kernels without any water whatsoever. On 
the customary basis of 10% water for thoroughly 
crib-cured old corn, or kiln-dried corn, the yield 
was 229 bushels shelled corn from a single acre. 
Remember this crop was raised by Z. J. Drake, 
of Marlboro County, S. C., in 1889. He received 
$500 in gold from American Agriculturist, the 
journal which originated and conducted the con¬ 
test, and a similar sum was given him by the South 
Carolina Department of Agriculture. 
The second largest crop grown in that remark¬ 
able contest was by Alfred Rose, of Yates County, 
N. Y. His yield was 15,898 pounds corn on the 
ear, averaging 26% cob, or 213 bushels shelled 
corn, green weight, or 191 bushels crib cured, and 
174 bushels actual dry matter. This contest 
attracted world-wide attention, and has since been 
quoted freely by leading authorities of America. 
There were several contestants who harvested more 
than 100 bushels shelled corn to the acre. 
Great care was exercised to see that everything 
was straight, that areas were correct and figures 
accurate. For instance, the prize acre of Mr. 
Drake was surveyed June 20 by W. B. Alford, a 
legal surveyor and also a trial justice, who took 
oath that the plot was measured by an accurate 
Gunter’s chain, and was 296.48 feet long, and 147 
feet wide, containing 43,560 square feet, or an 
exact acre. The boundaries were marked by stakes 
firing driven in the ground, but this precaution 
was hardly necessary, as no other corn was grown 
in the vicinity, the acre standing by itself. The 
harvesting was done in the presence of a large 
number of representative farmers, including J, C. 
Campbell, G. B. Dunn, J. W. Reynolds, J. J. Tart 
and dozens of others. The acre was first measured 
and found to be of the dimensions given. In addi¬ 
tion to all of the care taken at that time, the South 
Carolina Department of Agriculture and American 
Agriculturist verified records to see that every¬ 
thing was straight. Farmers and others came 
from all parts of the State to see this remarkable 
crop of corn, and it was a seven-day wonder in the 
South. 
In the light of this data, Mr. Haskell and others 
need not be surprised at the figures given out by 
Mr. Brewer. As a matter of fact, the last named 
has a long way to go before he equals the record 
of Mr. Drake. Although given previously in these 
columns, these facts are reprinted with the belief 
they will interest many farmers. 
American Agriculturist Corn Contest 
Described in “The Book of Corn,” Pages 353-359. Orange Judd & Company. Under direction of Herbert Myrick. 
First Crop, Z. J. Drake, Marlborough Co., S. C. 
BUSHELS (GHEEN WEIGHT). BUSHELS (CRIB CURED). TOTAL EXPENSE. NET EXPENSE PER BUSHEL. 
Yield, one acre, 255 239 $264 44 cents 
Fertilizer and manure used on one acre: 1.000 bushels stable manure, 4,800 lbs. Manipulated Guano, 1,800 lbs. Cotton Seed Meal, 400 lbs. Bone and Acid 
Phosphate Top dressing in May: 400 lbs. Nitrate of Soda. Total, 7,400 lbs. fertilizer in addition to the stable manure. Variety corn, Southern White Dent. 
Second Crop, Alfred Rose, Yates County, JNew York. 
BUSHELS (GREEN WEIGHT). BUSHELS (CRIB CURED). TOTAL EXPENSE. NET EXPENSE, PER BUSHEL. 
Yield, one acre, 213 191 $62 16 cents 
Fertilizers used ou one acre: 800 lbs. Mapes Corn Manure alone. No stable manure. Soil, Sandy loam. Variety corn, 
Early Mastodon.—From The American Agriculturist. 
The Great Corn Contest of the American Agriculturist. 45 Crops in all. 
Crops 213, 119, and 95 bushels each; Grown on one measured acre exclusively with the MAPES CORN MANURE. 
Of tliis great crop, 213 bushels, shelled corn, grown in Yates County, N. Y., with the Mapes Corn Manure (800 
pounds per acre) exclusively, the American Agriculturist says : “If we allow only $15 as the value of the tops for fodder, 
and make no account of bottom stalks, the cost comes within twenty cents a bushel (shelled corn).” 
The LARGEST crop grown with fertilizers OTHER THAN the Mapes (45 crops in all) was 84 BUSHELS 
(chemically dried, 60 bushels). 
Some large crops grown with the Mapes Corn Manure, and reported in the Agricultural Press 
1,040 bushels of corn (ears) on less than 4^ acres, equal to 233^ bushels, or 116# bushels shelled corn, per acre, grown on farm 
of Rural New-Yorker , with the Mapes Corn Manure. 
Ninety bushels (shelled) with 500 pounds per acre. 150 bushels (shelled) with 600 pounds per acre. Value of the grain alone over 
five times as much as the cost of the fertilizer— American Agriculturist. 
Eight hundred and fifty-six bushels (ears) on four acres. 159.37 bushels on one acre. 125.37 bushels on one acre. Nothing used 
but the Mapes— Rural New- Yorker. 
On two acres, 600 pounds of Mapes alone, broadcast, 198 bushels shelled corn. On three acres, same fertilizer, same quantity, 489 
bushels (ears). Grown by Dr. Henry Stewart.— New England Homestead. 
One hundred and eighty bushels of ears per acre; shelled, 98.45 bushels. 2,058 bushels (ears) on 16 acres. Only Mapes (800 pounds 
per acre) used. — Connecticut Farmer. 
Corn a Renovating Crop.—From the American Agriculturist. 
The Mapes Corn manure alone was used on the large crops recently described in American Agriculturist , but such 
yields are possible only by an exceptional combination of season, sunshine, moisture, soil, texture and fertilization, and 
by the use of seed that will produce two or more ears per stalk. Corn is a comparatively sure crop, and Prof. Mapes 
says that, with judicious fertilization, it can be made a renovating crop and not an exhausting crop as is generally sup¬ 
posed, bringing up the land to good condition for grass or general crops, besides making money from the start, and 
having field left clean and free of weeds. 
Descriptive pamphlet for 1910 — “The Mapes Manures and How to Use Them 
mailed free. Also pamphlets on Tobacco, Market Truck, Fruit Trees and < 
Small Fruits, Including Oranges, Pineapples, etc., in Florida, West Indies, etc. 
The MAPES FORMULA & PERUVIAN GUANO CO.. 
143 Liberty Street, New York 
See Advertisement, page 273, The Kural New-Yorker, March 5th— PRIZE CROPS OF POTATOES. 
