VOL. XXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, FEB. 27,1886.
NO 9
FIELD   EXPERIMENTS AT   PURDUE
UNIVERSITY.
Thick aad Thin Planting and   Shallow
Cultivation of Corn.
BT PROP. W. C. I.ATTA.
No. 3.
1.     DIFFERENT RATES OF PI.ANTINO.
Pxperlments were begun on the college
farm last season to test the effect of drilling in corn at dl tit-rent rates. The following test was made in the open field. The
plats were 80 rods long, placed side by side
and contained fonr rows of corn each. The
rows were uniformly 3 feet 8 inches apart.
The drill waa set, to drop, the kernels singly at the various distances apart shows
in the following diagram:
DIAGRAM OP THK PLATS.
No. l.'Average' distance between kernels 19 Inches
No. 2. Average distance between kernels 15S Inches
No. *. Average distance between kernels IS Inches
No. 4. Average distance between kernels 11S Inches
No 6. Average distance between kernels 13 Inches
As a matter of course the distances apart
varied somewhat, and the drill sometimes
deposited more than one kernel in a place.
When the crop was well started the plats
were carefully thinned to the proper stand
as nearly as possible. With the exception
of difference in "stand," the plats were
subject to like conditions throughout.
The soil ef the plats was a dark clay loam,
well drained, and only moderately fertile.
The corn was planted May 5th, out September ltith, and husked November 10-12,
at which time the corn was found to be
well cured. The corn was oarefully
weighed when husked and the yields accurately 'calculated to the acre in bushels
of 70 pounds. The yields of fodder are
only approximately correct, as only a certain portion of the fodder of each plat was
weighed.
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It appears that the heaviest yield of oorn
was produced by the thickest stand (plat
4), and the lightest yield by the thinnest
stand (plat 2). It will be seen/further.that
the proportion of stalks and ot  poor oorn
is not so great on plat 4 as on plat 2. Too
much stress shonld not be laid, however,
on the relative amounts of stalks and poor
oorn for two reasons.
1. As before stated, the yields of stalks
were obtained by weighing only a portion
of tbe fodder from each plat.
2. A slight error in judgment in sorting
the corn would make a difference of one
or two per oent. We can more clearly see
the relation of "stand" to yield by comparing the totals of good and poor corn,
because in the total weights of oorn, the
scale tells the story, and no error of judgment can enter.
Bnshels per acre
Plat 4 (kernels II. Inohes  apart)
produced.... „ — 67.94
Plats 1, 3 and 6 (kernels 13 inches
apart) produced an average of.... 66.28
Plat 1 (kernels 15X. Inches  apart)
produced _. - 68.25
In another field, on a series of plats arranged as described above, the rates of
drilling varied as shown below in the table. The plats were of the same width as
those in the first series,but they were only
16 rods long. The plats were planted May
16th, cut Sept. 21st and husked Nov. 20th.
Corn well cured. The entire yields of these
plats both fodder and oorn were carefully
weighed when the corn was husked. The
yields are calculated to. the acre as before,
70 pounds of corn being allowed to the
bushel.
Proportion of
poor corn
Per cent
7.6
7.5
9.7
15.7
14.8
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Distance
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Plat 3 gave much the heaviest yield.
This is chiefly due, probably,to the deeper
soil of this plat owing to a back furrow
extending lengthwise throngh it. It is
better therefore to throw out this plat (3)
in making comparisons. The thinnest
stand again takes third rank as in the first
series. The thickest stand takes second
place with a yield of 65.62 bushels; while
the medium stand (average stand of Nos.
1 and 5) ranks first, the jield being 67.67
bushelB.
These experiments indicate that the tn-st
results are obtained when the stalks stand
about one foot apart in the row. This rule
would doubtless apply, however, only to
medium-sized corn grown on soil of average fertility.
2.     SHALLOW CULTIVATION OP OOBN.
Without attempting to discuss the question of shallow vs. deep cultivation. I desire to submit the results obtained last
season with shallow, and ordinary cultivation. The experiment was made in the
open field on three plats lying side by side.
Each plat contained four rows of corn and
was 80 rods long. The middle plat was
harrowed eight limes during the season
with the harrow attachment to cultivator,
and cultivated once (3d time) with "bull
tongues." The two side plats reoeived
nine cultivations, the first two with the
harrow attachment and the rest with bull
tongues and the ordinary cultivator hoes.
The cultivation of the side plats was, in
kind, such as farmers ordinarily bestow,
neither very deep nor very shallow. The
plats were planted with drill May 14, cut
Sept. 16 and husked Nov. 3 and 4. The results are as follows, calculated to the acre:
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The harrowed plat produced the heaviest
yield of corn and the largest proportion of
corn to stalk, and makes a good showing
for shallow cultivation. The soil of these
plats was the same as that described in the
first part of this paper. Of course it will
not do to generalize from the results of
one season or of a single experiment. Experiments in methods of cultivating and
rates of planting corn, will be continued
and enlarged. My next paper will contain some points on early gathering of
seed oorn.
Lafayette, Ind., Feb. 19,1886.
INDIANA.
Randolph Co., Feb. 20.—Wheat is in
best condition ever seen at this time of
year. W. J. D.
Greene Co., Feb. 20.—Farmers think
the recent oold weather is freezing out the
wheat, especially on the clay soils.
W. B. S.
Rush Co. Feb. 20.—Prevailing winds
during the week were from sonth, blow
ing two days in succession without change
of direction. E. K.
Watnb Co., Feb. 22.—The snow Is all
gone, and the ground frozen hard; the
freezing and thawing of the past week has
been bad for wheat. J. M. G.
Henrt Co., Feb. 20.—Stock in good condition and commands good prices; feed
plenty; wintry snow storm on the 19th,
especially in the afternoon. W. D.
Crawford Co., Feb. 20.—Yesterday was
the seventh Friday in succession when
the weather has turned colder; ground
about naked and freezing hard.   J. M. J.
Jefferson Co., Feb. 20.—Wheat seems
to have been injured somewhat by hard
freezing, but much depends upon March;
the Ohio is nearly clear of ice, but high.
F. L. M.
Gibson Co., Feb. 22.—Some fields of
wheat look well and some are damaged;
grape vines should be trimmed as soon as
they are clear of frost; general health not
good. E. J.
Washington Co., Feb. 20.—Snow fell to
the depth of six inches on a level, the
night of the 14th; apples to be had for 60
cents a buthel; a great many of the laat
crop of turnips are bitter, only fit for stock
feed. o. M. M.
Clark Co., Feb. 22.—Snow, slush, mud;
no out door work done this week; many
apples and potatoes frozen this winter as
a result of carelessness; cannot say as to
condition of wheat, think it is in fair condition, q. p.
Vermillion Co., Feb. 20.—The week has
been characterized by sudden changes of
temperature; two or three warm spring
like days had thawed the ground making
the roads very muddy, when they were
frozen Bolid on the 19th. F. R.
Switzerland Co., Feb. 20.—The continued severe weather is causing great delay In farm work; the ground is frozen
too deep to permit of plowing; no onions
have been planted, making it unusually
late in this section; owing to the deficiency
of rain a scarcity of water exists; all kinds
of farm products low in price, for want of
demand. c. G. B.
Putnam Co., Feb. 22.—After the thaw
and rain the wheat crop made a very good
appearance aj>d prospects are favorable for
a fair harvest; some maple orchards are
opened there being two fair flows of sap,
but all checked at present by another
"northerner;" there are a few cases of
scarlet fever prevailing over the county
causing several deaths   among children.
W. M.
ILLINOIS.
Effingham Co., Feb. 13.—Wheat looks
fair; not as much sown as usual in this
county; stock is wintering well; light fall
of snow last night. F. B. 8.
DAKOTA.
Nelson Co., Feb. 17.—Weather has been
fine moet of the time since the end of
January; I never passed a winter in Indiana with so little discomfort on account of
cold weather. Of course I have little exposure. When the weather is warm
enough to melt the snows here the moisture evaporates instead of making mud.
The ground will be dry within a foot of a
melting snow drift. Mrs. P. C. H.