Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-05-28
AND PLANTING OF CORN
AND ITS EFFECTS
Upon the Yield ofthe Crop-What has
Been Determined in the Matter
Experiments Scientifically
Conducted.

Bulletin No. Is of the Pennsylvania
Experiment station (state college P. o.,
Centre county, Pa, is report of ex-
periments on the influence of variety
and the rate of seeding on the yield Of
ensilage corn. Two varieties of corn
were planted ,one the field corn ordinari-
ly grown in that locality, the other
Creeks Boston ensilage, a large grow
ing variety which barely reaches the
glazing stage before frost in that local
ity. Both varities were sown in dupil-
cate plots of two rates of seeding each,
the plots being alternated. The rows
were three and one-half feet apart, with
guard rows between the plots, so that
the ground was all equally occupied.
Manure was applied literally, but by a
mistake the thick seeded plot received
large quantities of manure as well as of
seed. The thin seeded plots were plan
ted so that the stalks stood fourteen
I inches apart in the rows, while on the
thick seeded plot the stalks were three
and one-half inches apart.
The average yield of each pair of plots,
calculated to one acre, was: Small,
thin-seeded, II 1862 pounds; small, thick
seeded 1908 pounds; large, thin-seeded,
%, ,s55 pounds; large, thi ck-seeded, 25,-
$40 pounds.
It appears, therefore, that the larger
variety gave a decidedly larger yield
then the smaller one, and that thick
seeded was decided y more prof table
than thin-seeded.
Chemical analyses were made OF sam
pies from the various plots, from which
it appeared that the produce OF the
larger variety and of the thicker seed
ing showed even greater superiority
than that indicated by the gross yield.
Experiments similar to the foregoing
have been conducted at the Ohio exper,
ment station over several seasons, ana
these have uniformly showed q larger
yield, both of grain and FODDER, ana
therefore of food for animals, when the
corn was so planted that the stalks stood
about six inches apart in rows about
three and one-half feet apart, than when
the distance between the stalks was
greater. AS between planting six inches
apart and three inches apart, the Ohlc
experiments show better results from
the six inch planting.
Such close planting as this causes tine
ears to be chiefly nubbins, and therefore
it is not to be recommended when mer
chantable grain is the product de
sired; but for siIage purposes it is mo-
+ necessary that grain should be mer
chantable.
, THE 'sMIxING" OF DIFFERENT vARIE
TIES OF CORN.
Bulletin No. II of the Kansas expert
ment station (Manhattan) gives the re
! suits of three years experiment in tn
artificial crossing ofa large number o
varieties of corn. The different races
as dent, flint, soft, sweet and pop corn
, were all crossed without difficulty
The effect of the cross was seldom
: visible the first year, but the secon'
generation showed generally more ear
or less completely blended, often exactl.
r intermediate between the two parenta
types. The products of the third yea
is generally true to the seed planted
that is, by selecting diverse grains fron
) anv ear, or from different ears, ears ar
l obtained with grains usually like tn os
. planted. Any desired form Of eros
! can therefore be perpetuated.