The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-01-01
Agriculture.
oovs SIZE OF STALK INFLUENCE CORN
YIELD?

oninion of a Famous Illinois Corn Grower
,,,-resDondence of The Progressive Farmer.
On the same principle that COW
riIl not fatten easily, when giving
a large quantity of milk, and that
unusual mental endOwments and
great PHYSICAL stature are rarely
found combined in the same person,
q variety of corn given to great stalk
and forage production, does not pro-
duce a oportionate quantity of
grain. In fact such variety of
corn is degenerated by economical
mother nature, to conserve its energy
nv means of lessened grain prOduc-
tion. The production of a stalk Of
corn is a soil-exhausting process, de-
manding much of the plants natural
vigor. And a variety of corn which
produces a very large stalk, invari
ably does so at the expense of its
grain production, the plants energy
being used up before growth of
grain. Luxuriant stalk growth makes
the first demand upon the plant S
natural vigor. In order to spend
literally on one side, the law of com
pensatiOn, or Enhancement of growth,
forces nature to economic in some
other organ. If excessive nOurish-
ment flows to the stalk, it will in
consequence be largely developed at
the expense of grain-production.
The prodigal development of a stalk
of corn out of all proportion to
the quantity of grain which it pro
duces, shows that it is degenerating
from grain production towards more
exclusive stalk and fodder produc
ton. As it is very difficult to get
COW to fatten readily who gives much
milk, on the same principle the small
stalked variety of medium sized corn
develops a large quantity of grain
at the expense of the size Of its stalk.
The law of correlated variation in
plant growth comes actively into
play in this connection. For if the
breeder marks medium sized stalks
in his fields of growing corn, he can
easily see that they will produce a
much larger propOrtiOnate quantity
of grain than will the largest stalks.
There is no question in the writers
mind, but that the excessive growth
of a stalk of corn diminishes it's grain
producing capacity. There are but
few kinds of cultivated plants that
can produce two diverse and profit
able products during one season s
growth. Selecting in the field be-
fore ripe, a medium sized stalk with
a large ear, has a tendency to breed
down the size of stalk, and to cor
respondingly increase the size of its
ear, thereby establishing a grain
producing instead of a fodder corn.
Other kinds Of field and garden
crops will admit of the same prin-
ciple. The seven top turnip develop
ing an enormous foliage at the ex-
pense of the size of its tuber, is a
striking example of this. This case
being strikingly contrasted in the
purple top strap leaved turnip (bOth
varieties are now growing on my
farm), developing enormous tubers
of fine table quality, much out of
proportion to the quantity of its
foliage. Certain particular soils and
climates have a tendency to produce
a too large growth of fodder and
stalk, in proportion, to yield OF grain.
Therefore the medium sized stalk
of corn develops a One-pOund ear at
i the expense of it's size of stalk. A
short thick stalk with great prOfu-
sion of blades, tends to center the
bulk of corn-prOducing nutriment in
the ear. The writer has discovered
that the largest grains that can be
found in any variety of short thick
/ stalked corn tends to intensity this
character, and that the largest grain
produces the largest grain yield per
stalk. The writer, living, as he does,
in the center of the greatest corn
belt on earth, and in a locality of
almost exclusive corn production,
where probably the largest average
crops of corn are annually produced,
has during his % years experience
as a corn breeder, and seed grower,
often verified the foregoing facts,
while roguing his growing crops, and
harvesting his seed crops. And has
had plainly demonstrated to him
that q folder or ensilao oa variety of