270 REPORT OF THE FARM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE 
Three varieties were planted later than the others, but as two of 
them ripened, the comparison is as fair for them as for any. The 
earliest variety to ripen, Pride of Dakota, was small, and the ears 
were set low. Crows attacked the ears and did great damage to 
the crop before the corn was out of milk stage. No other variety 
was disturbed by the birds. ; 
It proved to be impossible to harvest all at the same stage of 
growth, as some of the larger varieties were not so mature when 
harvested as those cut earlier, although they were allowed to 
stand very late. Of the earlier cut varieties, a few days intervened 
in several cases between the time when the majority of ears were 
showing “glaze” and harvesting. This was the case with two 
varieties of sweet corn, also Pride of the North, Minnesota King, 
and the Leaming. Hence these varieties show a lessened yield — 
and higher per cent of, and actually greater amount of dry matter 
than would have been found if cut at a date between that of 
appearance of “ glaze” and when they were harvested. 
With this season, and the length of time allowed in September 
before harvesting, giving 145 days between planting and harvest, 
the large late growing varieties have proved to yield greater crops, | 
and also larger amounts of dry matter per acre than the smaller 
varieties. Yet, while this is true, it must be borne in mind that 
the lower lands of this region were visited by killing frosts on 
May twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, and again on September 
twenty-second and twenty-third, but which did not kill corn on 
this farm. ‘To shorten the season thus much, would put a different 
aspect to the ratio of yields from all our varieties, and it is doubt- 
ful if the large varieties could still lead under the different order 
of things. 
It is probable that the dry matter of these varieties which have 
been cut at different periods of growth, has a different relative 
composition, and hence somewhat different feeding value. But it 
is hardly to be expected that these changes in the above crop 
could equal the differences in yield in favor of the large varieties. 
One point, in addition to the assurance of a crop, in favor gf small 
varieties, is suggested by a partial investigation of the changes in 
the composition of sweet corn stalks left standing after plucking 
the ears.* This point is that considerable gain may be secured 

*Report of chemist United States Department Agriculture, 1881-2, p. 409. 
