CIRCULAR No. 41 JN,11 ALABAMA Agricultural Experiment Station OF THE Alabama Polytechnic Institute AUBURN Late Planted Variety Tests of Coni. By E. F. CAUTHEN 1919 Post Publishing Company. Opelika, Ala. -. .. i L JUNE, 1919 EXPERIMENT STATION STAFF C. C. THACH, President of the College J. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station PLANT PATHOLOGY: J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist. E. F. Cauthen, Agriculturist. J. T. Williamson, Field Agt. M. J. Funchess, Associate. H. B. Tisdale, Associate Plant Breeder. O. H. Sellers, Assistant. M. H. Pearson, Assistant. VETERINARY SCIENCE: C. A. Cary, Veterinarian. CHEMISTRY : B. B. Ross, Chemist. E. R. Miller, Chemist, Soil and Crops. C. L. Hare, Physiological Chemist. BOTANY: W. A. Gardner, Botanist. Robert Stratton, Assistant. G. L. Peltier, Plan. Pathol- ogist. HORTICULTURE : G. C. Starcher, Horticulturist. J. C. C. Price, Assistant. C. L. Isbell, Assistant. ENTOMOLOGY: W. E. Hinds, Entomologist. F. L. Thomas, Assistant. J. M. Robinson, Assistant. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: G. S. Templeton, Animal Husbandman. E. Gibbens, Assistant. G. L. Burleson, Assistant. F. W. Burns, Assistant. EDITOR: Leslie L. Gilbert. AGRICULTURE: LATE PLANTED VARIETY TESTS OF CORN By E. F. CAUTHEN Many farmers wish to plant late corn on low land and on stubble land following winter grain. What variety is best for these plantings? There is an idea that a variety welt suited for early planting may not be the best for late planting. The Alabama Experiment Station has been conducting for several years a late planted test of varieties. These tests were made on sandy upland soil of me- dium fertility. A grain crop occupied the laud during the winter and was cut for hay or grain in May. As soon as the crop was removed, the stubble was.plowed under, and corn rows five or six feet wide were laid off with a large shovel plow. The corn was planted in a deep furrow to secure prompt germination and easy cultivation.. At time of planting, a mixture of 160 pounds of acid phosphate and 160 pounds of cottonseed nmeal was applied in the drill. The fertilizer stimulated the young corn plants to rapid growth. The, crops received three or four shallow cultivations. Yield Per Acne of Late Planted Varieties of Corn Date 'of Planting : June 20 June 5 JuneG6 May 18 1914 1916 1917 1918 Varieties Albemarle Prolific Alexander Prolific Calhoun Rcd Cob Station Yellow (905) Silage Corn -- Florida Flint ---- Georgia Six Ear -- I Goliad --- - - - - Henry Grady (1006)I_ Hickory King ---- - Jackson Red Cob - -t Mosby -- -- ---- Dwarf Mexican June Oklahoma Squaw---I From J. T. Smith, Foley, Alabama -- Whatley ------------ Wasn----------- Bu. IR'nkl Bu. I R'nkl Bu. 1R'nklBu. R'nk ---- 15.61-- ------- --------- - -1- -1 . 4 I--- I- - 17.01 - -16.81 1 24.0 3 21.91 2 I I---- - - - 22.4 4 1I-- -- - - ----I--- I--- I-- - -I -- 122.01 1 - ----- 16.3 3-I---- ---- 119.7 3 -- 13.7 7 --------------- - - -- - 14.1 6 .-- --- -- 5.-5--- -- 1 . 5 - -- - I ---- --l20.0 8-----I----I - -- - 21.91 1 1 16.71 2 (---- 17.0 6 15.61 3 1 - I - -- 19.41 5 1- --- - - -- --- I--- 131.21 1Ii --I - - - - ----I-I - ---1 18.51 5 --- - -- - I - -- I--- I--- 18.81 4 A comparison of the varieties that were included in both the early and the late planted tests shows that some varieties are better suited for early planting than for late planting. For example, Whatiey ranked first in the early planted test and fifth in the late; Watson ranked sixteenth in the early planted tests, and fourth in the late; Station Yellow ranked slightly below the average yield in early planted tests in 1916, 1917, and 1918, but in the late planted tests of the same years, it ranked first, third, and second, respectively. All varieties yielded fairly well for upland condi- tions. Under similar conditions, a reasonable yield may be expected from Dwarf Mexican June, Goliad, and any good variety that has yielded well from early plantings. Large one-ear varieties like Henry Grady and Calhoun Red Cob, are not promising for late plant- ing. The varieties of these tests, except Goliad, tas- seled and silked in from sixty to seventy days after planting. Planting may be deferred to the latter part of June if conditions do not permit of it being done earlier. The earlier part of June is a more desirable time. Where for lack of time thorough preparation cannot be made, the corn rows may be laid off in the stubble and planted. The middles can be plowed out or back for an early cultivation of the crop. Station Yellow is a two-ear variety, grows medium tall, and when it is planted in the late spring it requires about 115 days to reach stage of dry shuck. It has a very hard, yellow and flinty kernel that weighs 60 pounds to the bushel. Its cob is white. Dwarf Mexican June has one or two ears to the plant. It grows medium tall and requires about the same time to ripen that the Station Yellow requires. Its kernels are white and medium hard, and its cob is white. Dwarf Mexican June seems to stand the dry, hot weather of August and September well. Goliad is a very late, tall growing variety. Its leaves and stalk remain green one or two weeks after the shuck dries. Its kernels and cob are white. This varie- ty closely resembles the old, ordinary Mexican June corn.