Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-02-25

and six that had three ears each. In
one row planted from the other seed
there were 1S4 plants, eight of which
had no ears on, twenty-four two ears
each and none three ears. In husk-
ing l kept the single ears by them
selves, the two ears by themselves,
and the three ears by themselves, and
| weighed each lot separately. The
single ear lot averaged s 2-5 ounces
per each plant, the two ear lot Is As
ounces per each plant and the three
ear lot II IA ounces per each plant
Reduced to an acre average, the acre
containing 3554 hills, with one plant
yield twenty-six bushels per acre, the
two ear lot fifty and the three ear lot
about tifty-five bushels per acre.
This test demonstrated in the first
place that seed taken from a plant
that produced two or more ears each
would be more likely to produce other
plants bearing two or more ears each
than would the seed from a plant
that produced one ear each. Second,
that the weight of corn per plant in
creased accordingly to the mum Der of
ears it bore. Thirdly, that the per
cent of barren plants were less, in
the row planted with seed matured
by a plant that produced three ears
than in the row planted with seed
from a plant that produc but one
ear. Fourth, that each and every
joint on the plant having a hollow or
concave, just above it is an ear organ.
Fifth, that these ear organs do not
have to be pollenated to produce a
cob with kernel cells on it. Sixth,
that each one of these ear organs are
possessed with kinetic energy and
prepare their proteids for assimila-
tion to promote ear growth. Seventh,
that the function of these organs ex-
lists separately and Independently of
each other. Eighth, that to cause di-
geStion or fermentation of the food
elements in these several organs, an
outside agency must be introduced,
viz, carbonic acid. Ninth, this car
bonic acid must Oe taken from the
atmosphere and passed through the
stomata on the leaf where growth ex-
tends from each ear organ. Tenth,
that should this supply Of carbonic
acid be cut off from any cause there
would not be any digestion or fermen-
tation of the TODD elements, the pro-
teids thereby being unprepared for
assimilation and as result there
could be no ear growth.
With this evidence before me, the
question was-Why do not all these
ear organs produce an ear of corn?
Since all these organs, from 5 to 7 in
each plant, make partial growth OF
ear formation, whether the plant
matured one or more ears of corn or
none at all, it appears to me that
there must be some particular reason
for this. My solution of this char
acteristic is, that it exists as an in
herited weakness in the lower leaves
of the plant, being bred there year by
year by the selection of seed from a
plant that matured but one ear of
corn. And further that this weak
ness exists in the capillaries of the
leaves. That certain climatic condi-
tions will cause the clogging or filling
up of their stomata, thereby cutting
of the only avenue through which
carbonic acid can reach the ear organ.
l may continue farther this inves-
tigation to determine for a certainty,
if possible, the best course to pursue
to obtain the greatest yield Of corn
j. w. Brenner, Canton, S. D., in the
Minnesota and Dakota Farmer.