Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1914 — CAUSE OF BARREN STALKS OF CORN [ARTICLE]

CAUSE OF BARREN STALKS OF CORN

Anything Which Prevents Plant From Making Good Growth May Result in Nubbins.

(By W. C. PALMER, North Dakota Agv ricultural College.) Barren stalks reduce yields of corn. The barren stalks are more common in some varieties of corn. They are also caused by poor seed, poor soil, poor seedbed or adverse climatic conditions. Anything which prevents the com plant from making a good growth may result in barren stalks or nubbins. Recently in judging corn fields in Foster, Wells and Stutsman counties, North Dakota, determinations were made of the number of stalks with good ears —the barren stalks and nubbins were classed together. Of the N. W. Dent 49 per cent, of the stalks had good ears. Of the nine fields the highest was 62 per cent, and the lowest 28 per cent. Of the white dent the stalks with good ears averaged 66 per cent The highest was 76 per cent and the lowest 53 pet cent Of Minnesota No. 13, 70 per cent, of the stalks had good ears. The N. W. Dent averages a little less than one good ear to the hill, while other dents averaged one and one-half good ears per hill. This emphasises the need of carefully selecting, curing And acclimating the seed corn and of making a good, rich seed bed as well as keeping It clean from weeds. One. ear or one ans a half ears per hill can be improved upon.