462 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY . 
ing bow rapidly so unimportant a characteristic as color in corn, 
may be changed. 
Mexican Dent Corn .—A sample of this variety was planted 
May 20th, and ripened August 28th. 52 lbs. of ears were har¬ 
vested. The plat was too small to make reliable estimates of the 
yield per acre. It is an early variety, but has no other qualities 
that especially recommend it for cultivation. In the experiments 
with the same amount of seed planted on a given area, but at dif¬ 
ferent distances apart, that with seed saved early and late, and 
that with seed from tips, middle and butts of ears, were so badly 
injured by blackbirds, as to render the giving of quantitive results 
impossible. It was estimated that at least one-fourth of the crop 
was destroyed. There was no perceptible difference in the time 
of ripening, of that planted with the earliest ripening seed, from 
that planted with seed selected at the time of harvesting. 
White Silesian Sugar Beet. 
Seed obtained of the 'United States Commissioner of Agricul¬ 
ture. A piece of ground containing 3,800 square feet, was sown 
May 9th, by Holbrook’s Patent Kegulator Seed Drill, in rows 2 1-2 
feet apart The land was a light, clay loam, and was trench 
plowed to a depth of 18 inches. Thirty bushels of wood ashes 
were sown upon the land before harrowing. Ho other fertilizers 
were used. A portion of the seed, washed out by rain, was re¬ 
sown May 16th. May 31st, the earth was loosened about the 
plants with hoes. June 8th, the plants were thinned to six inches 
apart. June 20th, hoed again, drawing the earth slightly about 
the crown of the plants. 
The severe drought checked the growth of the plants during 
the summer. After sufficient rain fell, the roots grew rapidly until 
October 10th, when the severe frost checked further growth. At 
this time the roots were not fully mature, as was shown by their 
freshly cut surface turning red when exposed to the air. Har¬ 
vested October 14th. Weight of roots, 2,470 lbs. Yield per acre, 
14 tons, 300 lbs. The roots were nearly all of medium size. The 
yield can be greatly increased by preparing the land the year be¬ 
fore, as deep culture is necessary to a large yield. 
On account of the late date of receiving the apparatus, and the 
