X L I B R.AR.Y OF THE U N I VLRSITY OF ILLI NOIS NOTICE: Return or renew all Library Materials! The Minimum Fee tor The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons tor discipli- nary action and may result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L16I 0-1096 Yields of CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR And methods to determine best time to harvest By W. B. Nevens and G. H. Dungan Bulletin 494 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION CONTENTS PAGE OTHER EXPERIMENTS 387 PLAN OF INVESTIGATION 388 "Block" Plan of Planting Used 389 Measuring Forage Yields 390 Entries Used for Comparison 392 HYBRIDS SUPERIOR FOR SILAGE PRODUCTION 392 Hybrids Yielded More Ears and Dry Matter 392 Less Lodging Shown by Hybrids 394 Hybrids Had Higher Proportion of Ears 395 Ability to Mature Grain Is a Consideration 395 RATINGS OF HYBRIDS FOR SILAGE AND GRAIN 3% Ratings Are Comparative 3% Commercial Hybrids Good in Forage Yield 397 DRY MATTER BEST GUIDE TO STAGE FOR HARVEST... 397 Leaves Are Good Index to Dry-Matter Content 398 Thirty Percent Dry Matter Gives Best Silage 398 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 399 LITERATURE CITED 400 APPENDIX (Tables 3-19).., . 402 t'rbana, Illinois October, 1942 Publications in the Bulletin series report the results of investigations made or sponsored by the Experiment Station Yields of Corn Hybrids Harvested for Silage: And Methods to Determine Best Time to Harvest By W. B. NEVEXS and G. H. DUNCAN* MANY QUESTIONS on the value of hybrid corn for silage have naturally followed the rapid increase thruout the corn belt in the plantings of this kind of corn for grain. When the tests reported herein were started in 1935, hybrid corn made up less than one-half of 1 percent (.42 percent) of the total corn acreage in Illinois, whereas in 1941 it constituted 87 percent of that acreage. In twelve corn-belt states hybrid corn made up considerably more than 50 percent of the corn acreage in 1941. The purpose of these investigations was to compare not only the forage yields of hybrid corn with those of open-pollinated corn, but also forage yields of certain commercial hybrids with the yields of several Illinois Station hybrids that have appeared most promising in grain yields. b In the 1941 experiments the forage was tested also for its value as fodder, including the value of the grain. Brief accounts of Illinois tests have appeared in the Annual Reports of this Station 10 - " * and in Bulletins 427, 429, 440, and 450. 5 - 7 - 8 * OTHER EXPERIMENTS Only a limited number of tests of hybrid corn for silage production have been reported. Roberts and Jones 15 * of the Connecticut Station at New Haven found that some of the western field-corn hybrids are better suited for silage purposes in Connecticut than either the late- maturing southern types or the early-maturing varieties commonly grown in Connecticut. Results reported by the Wisconsin Station 16 ' 17> 18 * may be sum- marized as follows: (a) Chemical analyses showed no significant "W. B. NEVENS, Chief in Dairy Cattle Feeding; and G. H. DUNCAN, Chief in Crop Production. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of W. W. Yapp, Chief in Dairy Cattle Husbandry, in making these tests. b Hybrids developed or produced at the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station are designated as Illinois hybrids in this bulletin. Hybrids developed by commercial firms are referred to as commercial hybrids. *Numbers starred refer to the literature citations on pages 400 and 401. 387 388 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, differences in the composition of hybrid and open-pollinated corn ; ( h) the feeding value of silage from hybrid corn was fully equal to that of silage from open-pollinated corn; (c) the hybrids that yielded the most grain tended to produce the most silage; (d) in general the hy- brids yielded more forage for silage than did open-pollinated varieties ; (e) many of the hybrids proved more resistant to lodging than did open-pollinated varieties. Reports from several other stations* indicate that for forage, either to be ensiled or used as fodder, hybrid corn is equal to open-pollinated corn or superior to it. The chemical composition of the grain of open-pollinated varie- ties of corn and of hybrids was studied by Fairbanks and Carroll, 9 * who reported the following data: DRY MATTER ETHER EXTRACT CRUDE PROTEIN CRUDE FIBER ASH NlTROGEN- FREE EXTRACT Curry's Improved Yellow Dent perct. 88.60 perct. 3.68 perct. 8.50 perct. 1.94 perct. 1.33 Perct. 73.15 Illinois Hybrid 791 88.38 3.96 8.50 1.88 1.36 72.68 Station Yellow Dent 86.88 3.86 9.62 1.76 1.30 70.34 U.S. Hybrid 35.. 88.98 4.08 9.25 1.72 1.34 72.59 These investigators concluded that "the differences found are probably not so much differences between hybrid and open-pollinated corn as differences between specific strains of corn regardless of their genetic origin." PLAN OF INVESTIGATION The corn tested in the experiments reported herein was grown on Station land at Urbana and on fields' 3 which adjoined the Station farm and were rented and operated by the Department of Dairy Husbandry. Hybrids having excellent records of grain production were chosen for these tests. This choice was made because investigations 13 * with open- pollinated corn had showed that the best varieties for forage produc- tion were also good producers of grain, and it was assumed that there is a similar relationship between the grain and forage production of hybrid corn. However, neither bushel yields nor visual estimates of forage pro- duction of a hybrid is a reliable guide to its ability to produce forage to be ensiled. Dry-matter content, number of ears, proportion of ears to stalks, adaptability, and resistance to lodging must also be considered. These trials were planned in such way as to measure all these characteristics. 'Michigan, New York (Cornell), North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. h \c\vton and Pcrcival fields named in this bulletin are located at Urbana. 1942] YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 389 TABLE 1. PEDIGREES OF ILLINOIS AND U. S. HYBRIDS TESTED FOR YIELDS OF FORAGE FOR SILAGE Hybrid No. Pedigree Hybrid No. Pedigree III. 2 (Trx90)(R4xL317) 111. 4 (5120x5680)(R4xL317) III. 13 (R4xKutias) 111. 21 (WF9 x 38-1 1) (187-2 x Hy) III. 39 (Tr x 90) (R4 x Hy) 111. 51 (4211x5110)(R4xHy) 111. 54 (5120 x 421 l)(R4xHy) 111. 99 (CC5xCC7)(WF9xCCl) 111. 121....(AxL)(WF9xR4) III. 129 .... (5675 x 5360) (R4 x L317) 111. 144.... (5675 x 5120) (R4xL317) 111. 147....(PrxI-205)(L317xR4) III. 151.... (5676 xPr)(TrxR4) 111. 156.... (Kysx 38-1 l)(TrxR4) III. 160....(WF9xMy)(TrxR4) 111. 172....(R4xHy)(Ax540) 111. 200. . . .(WF9x 38-11) (K4xL317) 111. 201 . . . .(WF9x 38-11) (187-2 xL317) 111. 206....(WF9x38-ll)(5120xL317) 111. 355 .... (Pr x 1-205) (R4 x Hy) 111. 372 .... (A x L) (WF9 x R4) 111. 384 .... (WF9 x R4) (A x Hy) III. 391....(AxHy)(TrxL317) III. 392....(TrxR4)(AxHy) 111. 414. ... (5675 xR4) (5120x4211) 111. 428....(5120xL317)(TrxR4) III. 448. . . . (38-1 1 x Kys) (K4 x L317) 111. 543....(90xHy)(R4xTr) 111. 546. ... (WF9 x Hy) (R4 x Tr) III. 560. ... (Pr x R313) (R4 x Tr) 111. 562....(AHx540)(R4xTr) 111. 571....(Trx90)(Hyx540) 111. 587.... (5120 x 421 l)(Hyx 540) 111. 710....(R4xHy)(TrxL317) 111. 713.... (WF9x 38-1 1) (Gigasx L317) 111. 762....(AxHy)(R4xL317) 111. 784.... (Hyx 5120) (K4xL317) 111. 838.... (38-1 lxPr)(K4xL317) 111. 863....(R4xHy)(K4xL317) III. 945....(TrxL317)(WF9xR4) 111. 1077... (176Ax 540) 111. 4003... (PrxR4)(Kutias) 111. 4006. . . (Hy x R4) (Kutias) U.S. 13... (HyxL317)(WF9x 38-11) Studies were made of 43 Illinois hybrids, 16 commercial hybrids, and 1 U. S. hybrid. The pedigrees of all but the commercial hybrids are given in Table 1. "Block" Plan of Planting Used The corn was drilled in rows 3.5 feet apart and cultivated in the usual manner. In 1935 and 1936 the fields were planted entirely to corn, but from 1937 to 1941 the fields were planted to corn and soybeans. A "block" plan of planting was followed in order to facilitate the use of a field harvester which harvests and chops the corn in one operation. The blocks ranged in length from 80 to 160 rods and in area from 10 to 20 acres. Each block was surrounded by a 20-foot border of soy- beans, which were harvested for hay prior to the corn harvest. Four or a multiple of four rows of the first entry to be planted formed the middle section of the block, and half the number of rows of the second entry was planted on each side of the first. Additional hybrids were planted in the same manner as the second. For example, in a block that contained only entries of four rows each, Entry 1 com- prised the middle four rows ; Entry 2 was planted in four rows, two on both sides of Entry 1 ; and Entry 3 in four rows, two on both sides 390 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, of Entry 2. Thus each hybrid except the one in the middle of the block grew in two separate parts of the field. In 1941 most of the hybrids grown for forage to be ensiled were also grown for tests of grain and fodder production. They were A two-row planter was used to plant the long rows of the various experi- mental plots. The topography shown here was characteristic of all the plots. planted in %oo~ aci ~e plots on an adjoining portion of the same field as the crops to be tested for forage. There were six replications of each entry. The crop was harvested at the grain and fodder stage and re- sults compared with those of the forage tests. Measuring Forage Yields Field sampling. One method of measuring the forage yields for silage was field sampling; the yields were calculated from the weight and dry-matter content of representative samples of the standing corn. Field sampling was usually done just before the corn was harvested for the filling of silos. Samples of each entry were taken from rows planted by each of the boxes of the planter. The samples consisted of every twenty-fifth plant from 40 lineal rods of row or every fiftieth plant from 80 lineal rods of row. The samples were obtained by teams of two men each. The first man counted the plants and cut close to the ground the plant to be used for sampling. The second checked the count with a mechanical hand tally and carried the harvested plants. The number of plants per row and the number of lodged plants were carefully recorded. In some seasons the second man also counted 19421 YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 391 the lodged plants, and in other seasons lodging was estimated in a separate operation. A plant was considered lodged when it leaned more than 30 degrees from the vertical. After harvest, the field samples were immediately taken to the Agronomy field laboratory, weighed, and each plant separated into ear, The field harvester encircled each block, delivering the chopped corn into wagons or trucks. It caused less breakage and loss of ears than the ordinary corn binder and also made a cleaner harvest of lodged plants. stalk, and leaf portions. The leaves were stripped from the stalks by hand. A part of the sheath of the leaf sometimes remained around the stalk and therefore was included in the stalk portion of the sample, so the data for the proportions of the sample formed by stalk and leaf may show values slightly different from the actual values. The ears were husked and the husks added to the leaf portion. Each of the three portions of a sample was weighed and separately chopped in a power cutter. Subsamples were taken for dry-matter determinations. Sampling harvested crop. The second method used to measure yield of forage was to sample the harvested crop. Harvesting usually began when the kernels had reached a partly dented condition. The crop from a measured area of each entry was weighed as it was brought from the field on a wagon or truck, and random samples from each weighed load were collected in 20-gallon garbage cans having covers. These composite samples were thoroly mixed on a clean floor and reduced by the method of quartering until a subsample weighing 3 to 4 pounds was obtained. The subsamples were dried in an electrically heated oven at a temperature of 95 to 100 C. The percentages of dry 392 BULLETIN No. 494 {October, matter in the subsamples were used in calculating the acre-yields of dry matter. Since planting and harvesting each required two to three weeks, the plots planted first were harvested first so that the length of the growing period would be approximately the same for all entries. Plant- ing usually began May 5 to 15 and ended May 20 to 30. Harvesting ordinarily began about September 1 to 15 and ended September 15 to 30. Entries Used for Comparison During the seven consecutive years of these tests, there were varia- tions in weather which make it seem illogical to compare the data for one season with those for another season (the growing seasons of 1936 and 1940, for example, had low rainfall). Hence for the most part the data for each season have been considered individually. Each season a number of check plots were used at more or less regular inter- vals thruout the fields. Large plots and large fields having fairly uni- form topography and soil type served to give results that the authors believe are reliable measures of the comparative performance ability of the various entries. From 1935 thru 1939 Station Yellow Dent, a strain of Reid Yellow Dent, selected and improved by this Station, was used as a check entry because it had proved to be one of the best open-pollinated varieties of yellow corn for both grain and silage purposes in central Illinois. However, because of its continued poor performance in com- parison with the hybrids, it was replaced in 1940 and 1941 by Funk Hybrid G-94, a commercial hybrid which had a good performance record in the previous years of these trials. HYBRIDS SUPERIOR FOR SILAGE PRODUCTION Hybrids Yielded More Ears and Dry Matter The yield of ears by an entry indicates not only its performance as a producer of grain but also (more important in these studies) the feed- ing value of an acre of its forage for silage. The feeding value of the grain is of course greater than that of the stalk or leaf, so one of the desirable characteristics of good silage corn is a high yield of grain. In good corn-growing seasons some of the better entries yielded as much as 2.5 tons of ears (dry-matter basis). In 1935 on the Station farm the average yield of ears per acre by all entries was more than 2 tons (Table 3)." In 1938 and 1940 (Tables 6 and 8) the yields of ears in a few entries exceeded 2 tons. However, low rainfall, the use of rented land lower in productivity than the Station farm, and other factors peculiar to certain seasons kept the average ear yields during "For TaMes 3 to 19 see Appendix, pages 402 to 412. 1942] YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 393 1936 thru 1941 below those of 1935. The yields of dry matter are shown in Tables 3 to 10 inclusive. The best entries in terms of yields of both ears and total dry matter were for the 1935 season Illinois Hybrids 543, 560, 562, and Funk 1 1 yl.rids 220 and 912 ; for 1936, Illinois Hybrids 147 and 391 ; for 1937, Illinois Hybrids 4, 144, and 945 ; for 1938, Funk Hybrids G-53 and G-94; for 1939, Funk Hybrids G-94 and G-167; for 1940, Illinois Hybrids 206 and 863 ; for 1941, Illinois Hybrids 206. 448, 838, and 863. Station Yellow Dent, the only open-pollinated variety included in these tests, consistently yielded lower than the hybrid entries. In each of the trials over the seven-year period this variety had a poorer record than the average of all the hybrids (Tables 3 to 10) . a In 1935 seven plots of Station Yellow Dent gave 1.60 to 2.25 tons of ears and 3.41 to 4.76 tons of total dry matter. Sixteen hybrids, on the other hand, yielded 1.73 to 2.78 tons of ears and 3.35 to 5.09 tons of total dry matter. Further confirmation of the higher yields of the hybrids is found in the results of the 1941 test for grain and fodder production (Table 10). The one U. S. hybrid and nine Illinois hybrids grown for silage production (Table 9) were also grown for grain and fodder in six replications on an adjoining portion of the same field. The yields of both ears and total dry matter were higher at the grain-and- fodder harvest stage than at the silage stage, as would be expected because of the more advanced development of the crop. Nine of the ten hybrids had higher yields of ears than Station Yellow Dent, and each of the hybrids yielded more dry matter than did Station Yellow Dent. In trials of this kind there was considerable variation in yield from plot to plot, and some hybrids were higher yielding than others. Two measuring methods gave substantial agreement. Identical values cannot be expected to result from measuring dry-matter content by field sampling and by sampling harvested corn because of the fol- lowing sources of differences: 1. In the two methods, unequal numbers of plants contributed to the forage from which samples were taken. In some of the experiments with harvested corn, more than 10,000 plants may have been included in the harvested crop because when corn is drilled there may be more than 10,000 plants to the acre. But in the field-sampling method fewer than 100 plants were taken from each plot to form the material sampled. 2. Subsamples tested in both methods consisted of only a few pounds of forage. 3. Loss of moisture from green material freshly harvested is rapid, par- ticularly in hot weather, which frequently occurs during harvest time. 4. Any losses or errors which occur in these sampling procedures are mul- tiplied many times in calculating the acre yields. "Factors considered were percentage of erect plants, yield of ears, and total yield of dry matter. 394 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, Despite these sources of differences, the yields of total dry matter as determined by field sampling and by sampling harvested forage agree extremely well, especially for the season of 1936, when 36 entries occupied an area of 105 acres. Table 4 shows that the yields for 1936 were uniformly low, and these low yields are also shown by closely-agreeing averages obtained by the two methods of dry-matter determination. Altho other tables show some large discrepancies in yields of in- dividual entries for one season as determined by the two methods, it should be pointed out that the figures for all of the entries for one season agree well. Table 3, for example, shows differences in indi- vidual yields, but by whichever method measured, the yields of all entries for 1935 are shown to have been high and there is good agree- ment between the averages for the hybrids and those for Station Yellow Dent. Less Lodging Shown by Hybrids The characteristics exhibited by several hybrids and by Station Yellow Dent during harvest in 1935 (Table 2) indicate that the tendency to lodging is a weakness of Station Yellow Dent, and that the trampling and loss of a part of the lodged plants in harvesting is an important reason why its forage yields for silage were below those of TABLE 2. CHARACTERISTICS OF HYBRIDS AND OPEN-POLLINATED VARIETIES TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1935 K Height to base of tassel Height to ear node Number of nodes Erect plants inches inches Percl. 1 Funk Hybrid 912 . . .... 96.72 46.57 12.74 93.5 2 Funk Hybrid 220 83.73 37.44 12.07 93.8 3 Station Yellow Dent 101.73 52.31 13.87 87.2 4 Funk Hybrid 206 94.04 45.81 13.45 96.0 5 Funk Hybrid 207 89.11 47.26 13.61 92.4 6 Station Yellow Dent 99.02 55.05 11.82 87.1 7 Illinois Hybrid 39 90.59 44.31 14.89 92.1 8 Illinois Hybrid 54 91.19 43.22 13.64 90.1 9 Station Yellow Dent .' 91.98 45.86 12.36 85.3 10 Illinois Hybrid 51 . ... 89.68 41.29 11.14 89.1 11 Illinois Hybrid 13 95.63 47.02 13.61 95.8 12 Station Yellow Dent 93.29 46.01 13.07 80.0 13 Illinois Hybrid 384 87.01 39.31 12.73 94.4 14 Illinois Hybrid 546 . ... 83.95 37.18 13.10 91.9 15 Station Yellow Dent 89.75 45.80 13.09 87.1 16 Illinois Hybrid 710... 91.69 45.60 13.17 96.1 17 Illinois Hybrid 562 90.42 48.70 13.54 94.3 18 Station Yellow Dent 94.19 49.27 11.60 82.2 19 Illinois Hybrid 560 83.30 40.63 13.48 95.1 20 Illinois Hybrid 543 '. 84.35 40.80 13.65 88.6 21 Station Yellow Dent 91.59 48.89 13.47 79.4 22 Illinois Hybrid 571 88.20 43.55 13.31 86.4 24 Illinois Hybrid 392 82.61 39.45 13.25 68.3 Average Hybrids. 16 plots 88.89 43.01 13.18 91.1 Station Yellow Dent. 7 plots 94.51 49.03 12.75 84.0 1942} YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 395 the hybrids. Nearly all of the hybrids had a smaller percentage of lodged plants than did Station Yellow Dent. During 1940, a dry season, there was little lodging of the hybrid entries, but in two plots of Station Yellow Dent only 86 percent of the plants were erect (Table 16). Station Yellow Dent proved to be somewhat taller and to bear ears at a greater height from the ground than the hybrids (Table 2). This indicates that extra-tall plants have no advantage over lower- growing plants when the two kinds yield the same amount of ears and forage. There was but little difference in the average number of nodes per plant. Hybrids Had Higher Proportion of Ears When harvested for silage, hybrids in this study had a higher pro- portion of ears and therefore apparently a higher feeding value than Station Yellow Dent (Tables 11-17). Station Yellow Dent usually had a higher proportion of stalks and about the same proportion of leaves as the hybrids, altho in some seasons it had slightly more leaves. When harvested for fodder, Station Yellow Dent had a larger pro- portion of ears than six hybrids and a smaller proportion than four hybrids (Table 18). The proportion of ears in the crop varies, of course, with the stage at which the crop is harvested. A crop harvested before the ears develop would consist entirely of leaves and stalks. But when the grain is mature, the greatest proportion of the crop is in ears. The effect of time of harvest on percentage of ears is shown by comparing the figures in Tables 17 and 18. In the silage stage (Table 17) the ears composed less than 40 percent of the crop; in the fodder stage (Table 18) they formed more than 50 percent (dry-matter basis). It would be undesirable, however, to wait for the mature-grain stage before harvesting corn for silage, since the best silage is made before maturity when the dry-matter content of the crop is 30 to 35 percent. Good silage corn must contain a high proportion of ears at the best time to harvest for silage. The proportion of ear, stalk, and leaf varied also from year to year according to seasonal conditions. In the unusually dry season of 1936 the ears of most of the entries formed a smaller proportion of the total crop than in some other seasons. Ability to Mature Grain Is a Consideration A high yield of dry matter, a higher percentage of ears, and good lodging resistance are not the only desirable characteristics of a variety or hybrid for silage purposes. The plant must also mature the grain. As in previous investigations 13 * by this Station, it was found that some varieties or hybrids well suited for grain production in southern Illinois where they normally mature grain may have smaller yields of dry matter in central Illinois than grain varieties or hybrids adapted 396 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, especially to central Illinois. An example of such a hybrid is Funk Hybrid G-135 (Tables 7, 8, 9). It therefore seems best, even for silage purposes, to select corn that is so adapted to where it is to be grown that it will mature the grain. However, if a farmer has such large acreages of corn that the silo- tilling period lasts several weeks, he may plant several varieties or hybrids some early maturing, some medium maturing, and some late maturing in order to insure a proper stage of crop development thruout the harvest period. RATINGS OF HYBRIDS FOR SILAGE AND GRAIN The hybrids tested for forage to be ensiled were selected on the basis of their performance as grain producers in extensive tests by the Illinois Station at several fields in northern, central, and southern Illinois and at Urbana. These fields represent several different soil types and climatic conditions. Most of the hybrids tested excelled the open-pollinated varieties in yields of ears, in lodging resistance, and in general performance rating. The approximate grain rating shown for each entry in the present study is taken from determinations published in previous bulletins of this Station. 1 ' 8 * The approximate rating for silage was determined on the basis of the present study (Table 19). Ratings Are Comparative It must be remembered that the ratings given in Table 19 are merely comparative. The ratings of a particular hybrid are based upon the per- formance of only those entries with which it was grown. If grown with other hybrids or in another section of the state, it might have received higher ratings. Even tho some hybrids were rated as "poor" in com- parison with others grown with them, most of them were superior in silage yield to Station Yellow Dent, one of the best open-pollinated varieties of corn grown at Urbana for either grain or silage. Only four of the sixteen hybrids tested in 1935 yielded less tons of forage per acre (dry-matter basis) when harvested for silage than did seven plots of Station Yellow Dent (Table 3). Only five of the twenty-two hybrids tested in 1936 produced less harvested forage for silage than the averages of the Station Yellow Dent plots with which they were compared (Table 4). Other illustrations of the superior \ it-Ids of the hybrids are shown in Tables 5, 6, and 7. Illinois hybrids which were rated "good" for silage production ( Table 19) and which were in commercial production at the time this report was written, are Illinois Hybrids 206, 448, and 863. Of the 60 hybrids included in this study, 11 were rated "good" both for grain and for forage to be ensiled, 16 were rated "good" in grain 19421 YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 397 tests but "fair" in the forage tests, and 5 were rated "fair" in the grain tests but "poor" in the forage tests. Chiefly because of low lodging resistance (Table 12), Illinois Hybrids 4003 and 4006 were rated "poor" in forage tests. An important reason for a lower rating in these tests than in grain tests is that some entries Illinois Hybrids 172 and 372, for example were apparently better adapted to north- central Illinois than to central Illinois, and all the silage tests reported here were conducted at Urbana whereas the grain tests were made in various sections of the state. Commercial Hybrids Good in Forage Yield Most of the commercial hybrids proved satisfactory for silage purposes and gave yields comparable to the Illinois hybrids. In 1935. for example, the average yield of the commercial hybrids as harvested for silage was 3.83 tons (dry-matter basis), which was about equal to Station Yellow Dent, and slightly less than the average yield of Illinois hybrids (Table 3). In 1939 the commercial hybrids yielded slightly above Station Yellow Dent (Table 7). In 1940 the check entry on the Percival field, a commercial hybrid, yielded a little less than the average yield of seven Illinois hybrids and one U. S. hybrid (Table 8). Rapid progress in the development of new and improved hybrids has been made by corn breeders of both the experiment stations and commercial firms. A number of hybrids in these trials were grown for only one or two seasons and then replaced by newer and more promis- ing entries. Of 43 Illinois hybrids tested during the seven-year period covered in this report, only 11 were in commercial production in 1942 (Table 19). Of 16 commercial hybrids tested during the same period, only 8 were expected to remain in commercial use at the close of the 1942 season. As these trials progressed, it was evident that the hybrids were becoming of increasing value. Good ones were constantly being discontinued in favor of better ones. Both the Illinois hybrids and the commercial hybrids proved so superior to Station Yellow Dent that the use of an open-pollinated variety as a check, or standard, was dis- continued after 1939. Because of improvements constantly being made in hybrid corn, this investigation of its value for silage is being continued. DRY MATTER BEST GUIDE TO STAGE FOR HARVEST The percentages of dry matter in the ear, stalk, and leaf portions of the crop differ widely at the time of harvesting corn for silage. The ears are highest in dry matter, the leaves have about the same per- centage as the entire crop, and the stalks are lowest (Tables 11 to 18) . a 'These data are based upon samples taken from the standing crop just prior to harvest. 398 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, Stage of development and probably seasonal conditions affect the percentage of dry matter which any part of the plant bears to the total dry matter of the plant. The percentage of dry matter in the ears, for example, was higher in relation to the percentage in the crop in 1935 and 1938 (Tables 11 and 14) than in 1936 and 1937 (Tables 12 and 13). These crops were all harvested at a good stage for silage yet the ears of the 1935 and 1938 crops were farther advanced in development than the ears of the 1936 and 1937 crops. It is not clear that it would be satisfactory, therefore, to use ear development as the only basis for judging of the proper time to harvest corn for silage, altho this method is commonly used. A more reliable guide is a determination of the dry-matter content of the entire harvestable portion of the crop, as previously recommended by this Station, 13 - 14 * or of the leaves, as pointed out below. Data given in this bulletin tend to confirm the earlier recommendation. Leaves Are Good Index to Dry-Matter Content A reasonably reliable index of the proper stage of development for silage harvest under growing conditions like those at Urbana seems from these studies to be a determination of the dry-matter content of the leaves. This method is simpler than determining the dry-matter content of the entire crop, from the standpoint both of ease in collect- ing samples in the field and of length of time required for the drying of the sample, as chopped leaves dry much more quickly than chopped stalks and ears. This use of leaves is supported by the data in Tables 11 to 18, which show that at the silage-harvest stage leaves have about the same percentage of dry matter as the entire harvestable part of the crop. This relationship held good for most of the 146 entries as well as for the averages for the different fields and seasons. Exceptions occurred when the dry matter of the crop as harvested was above 35 percent (Table 13). In a few such instances the leaves were considerably higher than the entire crop in percentage of dry matter, presumably because of their rapid drying after the crop reached the ripening stage. Thirty Percent Dry Matter Gives Best Silage Corn ensiled when the dry-matter content is above 35 percent does not keep well. Even when water is added during the filling process by means of a pressure system and an ordinary 54-inch garden hose, usually not enough of it is supplied and it is not distributed well enough to insure good keeping conditions. The crops from eight plots on the Newton field (Table 16) harvested for silage in 1940 had an average of less than 30 percent dry matter. This silage had excellent keeping qualities and was much superior in this respect to silage made from corn further advanced in development, such as that of the 1937 1942] YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 399 crop (Table 13), which had an average dry-matter content of nearly 37 percent at the time of field sampling. Care must be taken, however, not to harvest the corn too early. A crop harvested while it is immature has a smaller yield and the silage has high acidity and low palatability. The wise farmer will harvest when he can obtain as large a yield as possible consistent with good keeping qualities and high feeding value. It was pointed out in an earlier publication 13 * that " . . . . when both keeping qualities and palatability of the silage are considered, the most satisfactory stage of development at which to ensile corn is when it has reached a dry-matter content of about 30 percent." Results obtained in the present study tend to confirm this conclusion. Directions for finding dry-matter content are given on page 401. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS In order to compare yields of hybrid corn for silage with those of open-pollinated corn and yields of certain Illinois hybrids for silage with those of commercial hybrids, investigations were made at the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station from 1935 to 1941 inclusive. In these investigations hybrid corn proved superior to open-polli- nated corn in quantity and quality of forage produced. The yields were determined by two methods. The first consisted of field sampling: the plants in measured rows were counted and a definite proportion of them harvested. The weight and dry-matter content of the ear, stalk, and leaf portions of these samples were determined. The second method consisted of harvesting measured areas of each entry and then weighing and sampling the harvested crop for dry-matter content. The average results of the two methods were in close agreement. Station Yellow Dent, an open-pollinated variety selected and de- veloped by this Station and found by previous trials to be high yielding for both grain and forage, was used as the check entry from 1935 thru 1939. A commercial hybrid, Funk Hybrid G-94, was employed for this purpose in 1940 and 1941. The various entries differed greatly from season to season in yields of dry matter, apparently because of weather conditions; but Station Yellow Dent had a lower percentage of ears and fewer tons of dry matter than most of the hybrids. It also showed more lodging, which probably was partly responsible for the lower yields and a smaller percentage of ears than the hybrids. Most of the Illinois hybrids tested in these trials proved satisfactory for silage purposes. Their performance in terms of yields of dry matter, percentage of ears, and lodging resistance was in most cases either equal to that of Station Yellow Dent and of the commercial 400 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, hybrid used as a check entry or superior to them. Only a few Illinois hybrids were considerably below average in performance, and their lower ratings were due largely to poor adaptability to the region where they were grown and in a few instances to their tendency to lodge. The best Illinois hybrids for use as silage in central Illinois, according to these tests, are Illinois Hybrids 206, 448, and 863. The Illinois hybrids and commercial hybrids were equally satis- factory for silage purposes and both were superior to the open-polli- nated variety used for comparison. When the corn crops grown for this study contained about 30 percent dry matter (a suitable silage-harvest stage), the ears contained 40 to 50 percent and the stalks about 20 percent. The leaves were found to have about the same percentage as the entire crop. It is there- fore suggested that the dry-matter content of the leaves can be used with nearly as good results as the dry-matter content of the entire crop, as an index to the best harvesting time for silage. The following earlier recommendations of this Station 13 ' 14 * are confirmed by these trials: (1) a dry-matter content of 30 percent in the corn crop is a good stage for silage harvest, (2) kinds of corn which usually mature the grain should be chosen for silage purposes. Carefully selected corn hybrids are superior to open-pollinated corn for silage purposes because of their greater yield of forage on a dry- matter basis, a higher proportion of ears in the crop, and greater lodging resistance. LITERATURE CITED 1. COPPER, R. R., DUNCAN, G. H., LANG, A. L., BIGGER, J. H., KOEHLER, B., and BOLIN, O. Illinois corn performance tests for 1939. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 463. 1940. Seventh annual Illinois corn performance tests, 1940. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 474. 1941. - Eighth annual Illinois corn performance tests, 1941. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 482. 1942. 4. DUNGAN, G. H., HOLBERT, J. R., Mu.MM, W. J., BIGGER, J. H., and LANG, A. L. Illinois corn performance tests: results for 1934. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 411. 1935. - Illinois corn performance tests: results for 1935. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 427. 1936. 6. - - Illinois corn performance tests: results for 1936. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 429. 1937. 7. Dr.NGAN, G. H., SNELLING, R. O., MUMM, W. J., BIGGER, J. H., and LANG, A. L. Illinois corn performance tests for 1937. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 440. 1938. 8. DUNCAN, G. H., LANG, A. L., BIGGER, J. H., KOEHLER, B., and BOLIN, O. Illi- nois corn performance tests for 1938. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 450. 1939. 9. FAIRBANKS, B. W., and CARROLL, W. E. Hybrid and open-pollinated corn for growing- fattening pigs on alfalfa pasture and in drylot: 1940-41. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. (mimeo.). 1941. 1942} YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 401 10. ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Ann. Rpt. 48, p. 150. 1936. 11. - - Ann. Rpt. 49, pp. 40, 139-141. 1937. 12. - - Ann. Rpt. 50, pp. 155-156. 1939. 13. NEVENS, W. B. Types and varieties of corn for silage: yield of nutrients; composition; feeding value for milk production. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 391. 1933. 14. Silage crops for dairy cattle. 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Cir. 463. 1936. 15. ROBERTS, L. M., and JONES, D. F. Ensilage corn trials at Mt. Carmel, Conn. Conn. (New Haven) Agr. Exp. Sta. (mimeo.). 1940. 16. WISCONSIN AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. What's new in farm science. Bui. 443, p. 76. 1939. 17. - - What's new in farm science. Bui. 449, pp. 74-76. 1940. 18. - - What's new in farm science. Bui. 451, pp. 21-22. 1941. How to Find Dry-Matter Content The dry-matter content of the standing corn crop can be de- termined by the following method. In order to minimize evaporation, the sample should be cut and weighed rapidly and in a shady place. 1. // the whole plant is to be used as a sample, harvest six to eight representative plants with a corn knife. Split the stalks lengthwise and cut the plants into pieces not more than 1 to li/ inches long. // I cures and husks are to be used as a sample, strip all of them from five or more representative plants. Cut these leaves and husks into pieces 1 to 2 inches long. Do not include tassels, stalks, or ears. 2. Mix thoroly and take a sample weighing not more than 4 to 5 pounds. Weigh to 1/10 pound on a milk scale or a kitchen scale. Record this weight. 3. Line shallow baking pans with newspaper and spread the sample corn in them. Place in an oven and subject to a temperature that will dry the corn rapidly without charring the paper. If the oven is equipped with a regulator, set the regulator at 212 F. For samples comprizing the whole plant, overnight drying may be needed. For samples consisting of leaves and husks only, three or four hours of heating are usually enough. However, continue to dry the sample until it ceases to lose weight. 4. In order to find the percentage of dry matter, divide the weight of the sample after it has been completely dried by its weight just after it was cut. If a sample weighed 4.2 pounds just after cutting and 1.3 pounds after drying, the percentage of dry matter would be 31 (1.3-T-4.2 X 100). 402 BULLETIN No. 494 APPENDIX [October, TABLE 3. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1935 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) Plot Entrv Field samples Har- No. Ears Stalks Leaves Total forage 1 Funk Hybrid 912 2.53 1.82 .74 5.09 3.86 2 Funk Hybrid 220 2 . 78 1.50 .64 4.92 3.14 3 Station Yellow Dent 2.01 1.78 .67 4.46 4.11 4 Funk Hybrid 206 2.11 1.67 .71 4.49 3.68 5 Funk Hybrid 207 2 . 23 1.81 .70 4.74 4.64 6 Station Yellow Dent 2.15 1.88 .73 4.76 4.49 7 Illinois Hybrid 39 2.32 1.76 .84 4.92 4.21 8 Illinois Hybrid 54 2.19 1.62 .66 4.47 3.79 9 Station Yellow Dent 1 . 66 1.53 .59 3.78 3.63 10 Illinois Hybrid 51 2.17 1.38 .63 4.18 4.54 11 Illinois Hybrid 13 2.13 1.32 .59 4.04 4.18 12 Station Yellow Dent 1.60 1.29 .52 3.41 4.09 13 Illinois Hybrid 384 2.16 1.15 .52 3.83 4.34 14 Illinois Hybrid 546 1 . 73 1.12 .50 3.35 4.34 15 Station Yellow Dent 1 . 89 1.29 .53 3.71 3.63 16 Illinois Hybrid 710. . . 2.11 1.19 .53 3.83 4.42 17 Illinois Hybrid 562 2.55 1.49 .65 4.69 4.83 18 Station Yellow Dent 2 . 25 1.45 .65 4.35 3.34 19 Illinois Hybrid 560 2 . 65 1.51 .75 4.91 4.89 20 Illinois Hybrid 543 2.52 1.47 .69 4.68 4.08 21 Station Yellow Dent 1.88 1.46 .51 3.85 4.55 22 Illinois Hybrid 571 2.15 1.37 .67 4.19 5.00 24 Illinois Hybrid 392 2.23 1.29 .49 4.01 4.46 Average Hybrids, 16 plots 2.29 1.47 .64 4.40 4.28 Station Yellow Dent, 7 plots 1 . 92 1.53 .60 4.05 3.98 (For Table 4 see page 403.) TABLE 5. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1937 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) No! Entry Field samples Har- vested forage Ears Stalks Leaves Total 1 Station Yellow Dent . . 1 28 1.28 1.44 1.36 1.28 1.27 .98 .90 1.04 1.00 1.17 1.23 1.16 1.11 1.21 1.21 1.19 1.19 1.16 1.10 1.34 1.07 1.42 .88 .93 .94 .82 .98 1.04 1.15 .90 1.02 .93 .83 1.09 1.21 1.14 1.04 1.04 3.90 3.77 4.07 4.06 3.44 3.33 2.79 3.61 3.04 3.38 3.68 3.73 3.87 3.10 4.10 3.52 3.93 3.63 3.58 3.49 3.67 3.81 2.99 3.02 3.26 3.32 3.09 3.10 2.87 3.69 2.75 3.38 3.20 3.78 3.19 3.88 3.32 3.32 2 Illinois Hybrid 428 1 26 3 Illinois Hybrid 762 1 29 4 Illinois Hybrid 945 1 90 5 Station Yellow Dent 1 24 6 Illinois Hybrid 1077. 1 41 7 Illinois Hybrid 587 1 07 8 Station Yellow Dent 1 59 9 Illinois Hybrid 710 1 00 10 Station Yellow Dent 1 06 1 1 Station Yellow Dent . . 1 56 12 Illinois Hybrid 2... 1 55 13 Illinois Hybrid 4 1 83 14 Station Yellow Dent 1 06 15 Illinois Hybrid 144 1 80 16 Illinois Hybrid 414.. . 1 12 17 Station Yellow Dent . . . 1 60 Average Hybrids, 10 plots 1 43 Station Yellow Dent, 7 plots 1 . 34 1942] YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 403 TABLE 4. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1936 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) Plot No. Entry Ears Field samples Stalks Leaves Total Har- vested forage Field A 1 Station Yellow Dent 60 .87 1 .01 2 Illinois Hybrid 710 1.24 .83 .74 3 Illinois Hybrid 546 1.15 .81 .98 4 Station Yellow Dent 73 .65 .63 5 Illinois Hybrid 147 1 . 34 .80 .93 6 Illinois Hybrid 156 1.08 .83 1.11 7 Station Yellow Dent 86 .86 .98 8 Funk Hybrid 220 1.17 .88 .96 9 Illinois Hybrid 355 1.30 .73 .93 10 Station Yellow Dent 52 .95 1 .00 Average Hybrids, 6 plots 1.21 .81 .94 Station Yellow Dent, 4 plots 68 .83 .90 Field B 11 Station Yellow Dent .. 1.05 .92 .99 12 Funk Hybrid 220 93 .60 .69 13 Illinois Hybrid 172 61 .42 .47 14 Station Yellow Dent 55 .67 .76 15 Illinois Hybrid 4006 93 .68 .81 16 Illinois Hybrid 4003 1.00 .69 .84 17 Station Yellow Dent 75 .73 .63 Average Hybrids, 4 plots 87 .60 .70 Station Yellow Dent, 3 plots 78 .77 .79 Field C 18 Station Yellow Dent 96 .99 1 . 04 19 Illinois Hybrid 391 1.38 .77 .82 20 Illinois Hybrid 384 1.43 .70 .76 21 Station Yellow Dent .. 1.13 .78 .89 22 Illinois Hybrid 543 1.20 .81 1.03 23 Illinois Hybrid 39 48 .69 .85 24 Station Yellow Dent 32 .84 .93 25 Illinois Hybrid 99 70 .75 .90 Average Hybrids. 5 plots 1.36 .74 .87 Station Yellow Dent, 3 plots 80 .87 .95 Field D 26 Station Yellow Dent .. .93 .71 .66 27 Illinois Hybrid 151 91 .61 .63 28 Illinois Hybrid 391 1 . 08 .70 .70 29 Station Yellow Dent 81 .59 .65 30 Illinois Hybrid 384 70 .71 .59 31 Illinois Hybrid 372 64 .46 .48 32 Station Yellow Dent 70 .54 .55 33 Illinois Hybrid 384 85 .54 .56 34 Illinois Hybrid 129 78 .94 .59 35 Station Yellow Dent 76 .65 .65 36 Illinois Hybrid 121 1.08 .88 .80 Average Hybrids, 7 plots 87 .69 .62 Station Yellow Dent, 4 plots 80 .62 .63 2.48 2.81 2.94 2.01 3.07 2.37 3.02 2.70 3.01 2.96 2.47 2.97 2.41 2.96 2.22 1.50 1.98 2.42 2.54 2.11 2.17 2.35 2.99 2.97 2.89 2.80 3.04 2.35 2.65 2.63 2.30 2.15 2!05 2.00 1.58 1.79 1.95 2.31 2.06 2.76 2.18 2.05 3.43 3.17 .70 2.87 3.15 2.33 3.13 2.52 2.02 2.35 1.59 1.38 2.29 2.50 2.18 1.70 2.60 3.20 2.93 2.94 2.68 2.11 1.63 1.92 2.57 2.39 1.82 2.15 2.26 2.14 2.08 1.76 1.94 2.35 2.47 2.49 2.67 2.25 2.10 (For Table 5 see page 402.) 404 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, TABLE 6. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1938 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) No' Entry Field samples Har- vested forage Ears Stalks Leaves Total 1 Funk Hybrid G-53 2.62 1.03 1.06 1.06 1.07 .92 .93 1.10 1.06 .86 1.01 1.04 .93 1.08 .96 .85 .81 .86 .99 .82 1.34 4.69 4.21 3.71 3.43 4.00 3.67 3.38 3.98 3.65 4.25 3.66 3.57 3.32 3.47 3.71 3.72 3.44 3.33 3.53 3.67 3.58 3.14 3.09 3.03 3.56' 3.30'' 2 Funk Hybrid G-94 2.22 3 Station Yellow Dent 57 . . .40 5 Funk Hybrid G-94 2.23 6 Funk Hybrid G-94 .93 7 Station Yellow Dent .42 8 Station Yellow Dent 93 9 Funk Hybrid G-94 1.97 10 Illinois Hybrid 156 1.90 11 Funk Hybrid G-94 12 Station Yellow Dent 13 Station Yellow Dent 1.75 1.33 1.05 .95 1.12 1.08 .82 .94 .99 4.16 3.91 4.07 3.73 14 Illinois Hybrid 160 2 04 Average Hybrids 7 plots 2.13 Station Yellow Dent 5 plots 1.61 Average of 8 plots. b Average of 6 plots. TABLE 7. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1939 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) ffi Field samples Har- vested forage Ears Stalks Leaves Total 1 Funk Hybrid G-94 1 84 .96 1.06 .96 1.29 1.17 1.53 1.07 1.02 .81 .92 .82 1.06 1.13 1.24 1.07 1.10 .79 1.13 .85 .99 .99 1.15 .83 .75 .65 .74 66 1.15 1.15 .82 .90 .92 3.59 3.76 3.29 4.06 3.84 4.45 3 29 2.76 2.69 2.65 2.74 3.43 4.02 3.21 3.44 3.37 3.35 3.10 3.42 3.55 h 3.42 3.55'- 3.42 3.14' 2.75-1 2.90 2.75< 3.14' 3.86 3.52 3.35 3.24 2 Station Yellow Dent . . . 1 57 3 Funk Hybrid G-l 25. .. 1.48 4 Funk Hybrid G-167 1 . 78 5 Station Yellow Dent 1 68 6 Funk Hybrid G-167. . 1.77 7 Funk Hybrid G-125 1 39 8 Funk Hybrid G-135. .. 99 9 Funk Hybrid G-156 1 . 23 10 Station Yellow Dent 99 11 Funk Hybrid G-156 . . 1 26 12 Funk Hybrid G-135. . . 1 22 13 Funk Hybrid G-94 1.74 14 Station Yellow Dent 1.15 Average Hybrids, 10 plots 1 47 Station Yellow Dent, 4 plots 1 35 Average of Plots 3 and 7. '-Average of Plots 4 and 6. Plots 9 and 11. 'Average of Plots 8 and 12. d Average of 1942] YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 405 TABLE 8. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1940 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) No' En ^ Field samples Har- vested forage Ears Stalks Leaves Total Newton field 1 Funk Hybrid G-135 .69 .77 .61 .97 1.29 .93 .80 .63 1.16 .88 .90 .78 .56 .69 .88 .72 .80 .65 .88 .72 .75 2.24 2.04 2.65 3.97 2.59 2.57 2.17 3.28 2.66 2.70 2.38 2.59 2.73 2.87 2.50 2.60 2.42 2.65 2.62 2.58 2 Funk Hybrid G-94 87 3 Funk Hybrid G-53 99 4 Funk Hybrid G-87 1 80 5 Funk Hybrid G-80 , 94 6 Funk Hybrid G-77 . . . .97 7 Funk Hybrid G-114 , 89 8 Funk Hybrid G-94 1 24 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 2 plots 1.05 Other hybrids, 6 plots 1.05 Percival field 1 Funk Hybrid G-94... .00 1.15 .93 4 OS 2 U.S. Hybrid 13 ; !.16 1.15 .85 4 16 3 Illinois Hybrid 21 .79 1.16 .85 3 80 4 Funk Hybrid G-94 2 .18 1.19 .92 4 29 5 Station Yellow Dent 2 04 1.37 1.15 4 56 6 Illinois Hybrid 200. .. !.00 1.57 .57 4 14 7 Funk Hybrid G-94 .30 .94 .77 3 01 8 Illinois Hybrid 201 .76 .99 .83 3 58 9 Illinois Hybrid 206 .47 1.20 1.12 4 79 10 Funk Hybrid G-94 .94 1.14 .87 3 95 11 Illinois Hybrid 448... .92 1.35 1.09 4 36 12 Illinois Hybrid 713 .98 1.04 .78 3 80 13 Funk Hybrid G-94 .84 .96 .81 3 61 14 Illinois Hybrid 784 .90 1.43 1.06 4 39 15 Station Yellow Dent .23 1.26 .95 3 44 16 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . .99 1.09 .89 3 97 17 Illinois Hybrid 838 : M3 1.43 1 05 4 61 18 Illinois Hybrid 863 !.71 1.49 1.38 5 58 19 Funk Hybrid G-94 >.37 1.22 .95 4 54 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 7 plots .95 1.10 .88 3 92 Other hybrids, 10 plots ; LOS 1.28 .96 4 32 Station Yellow Dent, 2 plots .64 1.32 1.05 4 00 406 BULLETIN No. 494 [.October, TABLE 9. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FORAGE TO BE ENSILED, 1941 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples and harvested forage) Plot No. Entry Field samples Har- vested forage Ears Stalks Leaves Total Newton field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A^ Funk Hybrid G-114 1.22 .91 1.66* 1.29 1.32* .91 1.25 .95* 1.02 3.04 3.81 3.81* 3.30 3.31 3.47 3.35 3.42 b 2.99 b 3.81 3.47 3.39 Funk Hybrid G-87 .90 Funk Hybrid G-94 1.57* Funk Hybrid G-135 96* Funk Hybrid G-53 Funk Hybrid G-88 Funk Hybrid G-147 ferage of 4 hybrids 1.16 1.30 1.03 3.49 Percival field 1 Funk Hybrid G-94 1.20 .88 1.01 3.09 3.08 2 U. S. Hybrid 13 3.11 3 Illinois Hybrid 21 1.37 .75 1.25 3.37 3.32 4 Illinois Hybrid 200 1.65 .96 1.21 3.82 3.27 5 Funk Hybrid G-94 1.69 .73 3.18 6 Illinois Hybrid 201 .. 1.50 .90 1.22 3.62 3.21 7 Illinois Hybrid 206 1.34 1.26 1.46 4.06 3.62 8 Illinois Hybrid 448 1.12 1.28 1.63 3.95 3.85 9 Funk Hybrid G-94 1.34 .81 1.15 3.30 3.38 10 Illinois Hybrid 713 3.36 11 Illinois Hybrid 784. .. 1.34 .90 1.08 3.32 3.35 12 Illinois Hybrid 838 1 . 84 1.10 1.61 4.55 3.53 13 Funk Hybrid G-94 1 . 23 .83 1.29 3.35 3.17 14 Illinois Hybrid 863 1.69 1.16 1.39 4.24 3.89 15 Station Yellow Dent 1.25 .97 1.22 3.44 3.42 16 Funk Hybrid G-94 1. 32 1.21 1.20 3.73 3.56 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 4 plots 1.27 .93 1.16 3.37 3.30 Other hybrids, 8 plots 1 . 48 1.03 1.36 3.87 3.50 Station Yellow Dent, 1 plot 1.25 .97 1.22 3.44 3.42 Average of 2 plots. b Average of 3 plots. ^Average of 4 plots. TABLE 10. DRY-MATTER YIELDS OF CORN TESTED FOR FODDER AT PERCIVAL FIELD, 1941 (Tons per acre as determined from field samples) Entry Ears Stalks Leaves Total U.S. Hybrid 13... 1 87 .84 1.07 3.78 Illinois Hybrid 21 2 11 69 86 3.66 Illinois Hybrid 200 1 77 1 08 .94 3.79 Illinois Hybrid 201 1 92 .72 .82 3.46 Illinois Hybrid 206 2 02 82 .95 3.78 Illinois Hybrid 448. . . 2 49 87 .96 4.33 Illinois Hybrid 713.. . 2 21 94 1 09 4.25 Illinois Hybrid 784. . 1 92 85 1.07 3.84 Illinois Hybrid 838. . . 2 26 84 98 4.08 Illinois Hybrid 863 1 97 99 .82 3.79 Station Yellow Dent . . . 1 84 .63 .88 3.35 Average of 10 hybrids 2 05 .86 .96 3.88 Average of data obtained in harvest of six replications (each 1/200 acre) at a stage of develop- ment when corn may be harvested for fodder (including grain). 1942] YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 407 TABLE 11. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE AND CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, 1935 (Expressed in percentage) No En "y Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry matter of crop in Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves 1 Funk Hybrid 912. . . 51.6 19.6 27.2 30.1 49.7 35.6 14.6 2 Funk Hybrid 220 . . 51.3 19.7 27.6 32.1 56.4 30.5 13.1 3 Station Yellow Dent . . 50.6 21.4 29 2 30.6 45.1 39.8 15.1 4 Funk Hybrid 206 .. 51.7 20.1 32.5 30.8 47.0 37.2 15.8 5 Funk Hybrid 207 . . 49.6^ 22.8 33.4 32.6 47.1 38.1 14.8 6 Station Yellow Dent . 52.9 23.6 30.1 32.9 45.1 39.6 15.3 7 Illinois Hybrid 39 . . 50.5 22.0 33.9 32.7 47.2 35.7 17.1 8 Illinois Hybrid 54 . . 49.3 22.6 32.0 32.7 48.9 36.3 14.8 9 Station Yellow Dent .. 52.7 24.4 34.8 34.0 43.9 40.5 15.6 10 Illinois Hybrid 51 . . 54 . 3 21.3 34.1 33.9 52.0 33.0 15.0 11 Illinois Hybrid 13 . 46.4 22.0 33.3 32,7 52.8 32.6 14.6 12 Station Yellow Dent . 54.6 21.5 29.4 31.9 46.9 37.8 15.3 13 Illinois Hybrid 384 . . 56.2 20.2 33.1 34.5 56.3 29.9 13.7 14 Illinois Hybrid 546 . . 56.3 20.9 31.2 33.4 51.6 33.5 14.9 15 Station Yellow Dent . . 55.4 22.9 32.6 34.8 50.8 34.6 14.6 16 Illinois Hybrid 710. .. . 54.2 20.5 34.6 34.1 55.1 31.0 13.9 1 7 Illinois Hybrid 562 . . 56.2 23.0 35.9 36.6 54.4 31.7 13.9 18 Station Yellow Dent . . 56.2 22.5 36.9 35.4 51.2 34.0 14.8 19 Illinois Hybrid 560 . . 59.3 20.2 34.0 35.3 55.9 29.5 14.6 20 Illinois Hybrid 543 . . 55.4 22.9 34.1 35.9 53.7 31.6 14.7 21 Station Yellow D*ent . 53.2 24.4 32.6 34.7 48.7 38.0 13.3 22 Illinois Hybrid 571 .. 57.9 23.2 35.0 36.3 51.3 32.7 16.0 24 Illinois Hybrid 392 . . 59.8 22.7 35.8 37.2 55.6 32.2 12.2 Average Hybrids, 16 plots . 53 . 7 21.5 33.0 33.8 52.2 33.2 14.6 Station Yellow Dent, 7 plots 53.7 23.0 32.2 33.5 47.4 37.8 14.8 (For Tables 12 and 13 for the years 1936 and 1937 see pages 408 and 409.) TABLE 14. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE AND CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, 1938 (Expressed in percentage) ?K Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry matter of crop in Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves 1 Funk Hybrid G-53 . . , 54.1 18.5 20.1 19.0 21.7 20.8 19.3 21.5 22.7 21.0 21.2 26.2 21.8 20.3 22.2 26.6 25.2 29.5 32.2 26.0 25.4 25.6 27.6 26.5 34.8 29.3 26.0 25.8 28.8 35.9 32.3 32.2 36.7 34.1 30.9 31.8 35.5 33.6 36.9 34.9 33.0 32.7 34.2 55.9 52.7 42.3 40.8 55.8 52.6 42.0 48.5 54.0 44.7 42.0 52.2 53.8 43.1 22.0 25.2 28.6 31.2 23.0 25.3 32.5 26.6 23.6 23.8 32.0 26.8 24.3 30.2 22.1 22.1 29.1 28.0 21.2 22.1 25.4 24.9 22.5 31.5 26.0 21.0 22.0 26.7 2 Funk Hybrid G-94 .. 51.0 3 Station Yellow Dent 46.8 4 Station Yellow Dent .. 52.9 5 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . 52 7 6 Funk Hybrid G-94 . 48.8 7 Station Yellow Dent . . . 47.3 8 Station Yellow Dent . . 55.4 9 Funk Hybrid G-94 50.3 10 Illinois Hybrid 156 . . 49.9 13 Station Yellow Dent . 49.2 14 Illinois Hybrid 160 . . 46.6 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 4 plots. . . . 50.7 Station Yellow Dent, 5 plots . . . . . 50.3 408 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, TABLE 12. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE, CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, AND NUMBER OF ERECT PLANTS, 1936 (Expressed in percentage) pj ot Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry mat- ter of crop in Erect plants Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves Field A 1 Station Yellow Dent . . 46 1 22.9 34.0 30.7 74 7 IS 40.8 2 Illinois Hybrid 710 . . . 45 1 21.4 ,23.9 28.9 44 1 79 S 26.4 3 Illinois Hybrid 546 40 8 1 20.7 21.9 30.6 23.8 29.1 27.3 39 16 1 3 27 32 6 1 33.3 31.4 90.1 4 Station Yellow Dent . . . 42 5 Illinois Hybrid 147 43 9 9 S 22.8 17.9 22 7 31.4 26.2 29 2 32.2 25.5 30 43 35 ,7 8 7 26.1 27.4 31 30.2 36.8 36 4 85.1 94.8 6 Illinois Hybrid 156 . . 35 7 Station Yellow Dent 46 8 Funk Hybrid 220 . . . 49 S 22.2 33.0 32 6 18 g 79 9 32 9 Illinois Hybrid 355 . . . 48 ,9 9 21.2 26 9 30.1 30 5 32.2 30 3 43. 90 8 24. 18 8 S 31.4 40 6 92.8 10 Station Yellow Dent 38 Average Hybrids, 6 plots 44 21 29 2 30 1 1" 9 97 4 31 7 Station Yellow Dent, 4 plots . . . ...43 .4 23.6 29.4 29.6 28 .3 34 .4 37.4 Field B 1 1 Station Yellow Dent . . 45 4 23.4 31.8 31.6 IS 6 11 33.4 12 Funk Hybrid 220 . . . 45 23 9 31 6 33 1 42 n 27 n 31 13 Illinois Hybrid 172 . . . 45 .2 ,9 .2 .2 8 21.8 22.8 21.8 22.1 33.2 29.2 29.1 29.2 28.6 22.8 30.7 28.4 29.3 31.1 31.6 40 27 38 39 IS .5 ,5 .4 .5 ff 28 34 28 27 14 .1 .2 .3 S 31.4 38.4 33.4 33.2 29.9 77.4 62.6 54.2 14 Station Yellow Dent 15 Illinois Hybrid 4006. . . .. 38 . . . 39 16 Illinois Hybrid 4003 .. 48 1 7 Station Yellow Dent . . . 43 Average Hybrids, 4 plots ... 44 6 22 4 29 6 31 in 1 77 6 32 2 Station Yellow Dent, 3 plots . . . ...42 .7 26.4 27.9 30.5 32 ,9 33 .2 33.9 Field C 18 Station Yellow Dent 19 Illinois Hybrid 391 20 Illinois Hybrid 384 21 Station Yellow Dent. . . . 22 Illinois Hybrid 543 .. 43 ...44 . .. 45 ..42 . . . 43 .6 .3 ,7 1 .1 1 D 21.9 19.8 26.1 22.0 21.0 22.1 23 27.9 27.6 19.7 26.8 31.1 31.5 30 1 28.6 29.8 29.8 29.3 30.6 28.7 27 2 32 46 49 40 39 23 is .0 .4 4 4 5 9 33 26 24 28. 26 34 -ID .2 2 6 1 7 34.9 27.6 26.4 31.6 33.8 42.0 44 6 85.2 77.5 23 Illinois Hybrid 39 39 24 Station Yellow Dent 34 25 Illinois Hybrid 99 Average Hybrids, 5 plots Station Yellow Dent. 3 plots. . . ... 41 ...42 . .. 39 3 . 7 9 23.9 22.6 22.3 31.0 28.2 28.3 30.4 29.9 28.4 29 37 29 B ,8 .2 32 28 33 1 6 8 38.1 33.6 37.0 Field D 26 Station Yellow Dent . . 27 Illinois Hybrid 151 28 Illinois Hybrid 391 29 Station Yellow Dent 30 Illinois Hybrid 384 31 Illinois Hybrid 372.. . 32 Station Yellow Dent . . 33 Illinois Hybrid 384 34 Illinois Hybrid 129 35 Station Yellow Dent 36 Illinois Hybrid 121 Average Hybrids. 7 plots Station Yellow Dent. 4 plots. . . . . 41.9 . .. 35.6 ... 37.5 . .. 40.6 ... 31.0 .. 35.9 ... 41.8 . . . 40.2 . .. 40.9 . .. 39.6 . .. 43.9 .. 37.9 ... 41.0 21.0 19.1 20.9 22.4 24.2 22.2 24.4 20.2 30.8 19.8 20.6 22.6 21.9 24.8 24.0 28.1 33.3 26.7 25.0 30.3 26.2 29.5 28.2 28.6 26.9 29.1 27.9 25.7 28.4 31.1 27.0 27.3 31.4 28.1 33.2 27.4 29.0 28.4 29.4 40.4 42.3 43.6 39.6 34.8 40.6 39.2 43.4 33.6 36.7 39.2 39.6 39.0 30 28 28 28 35. 29 29 27 40 31. 31 31. 30 .8 .3 ,3 ,9 4 ,3 ,9 ,8 5 8 7 6 3 28.8 29.4 28.1 31.5 29.8 30.1 30.9 28.8 25.9 31.5 29". 1 28.7 30.7 YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 409 TABLE 13. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE AND CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, 1937 (Expressed in percentage) Pl ot Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry matter of crop in Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves 1 Station Yellow Dent . 43.4 20.7 23.4 23.9 24.8 24.0 23.9 24.0 24.5 23.3 24.0 23.1 24.6 23.5 25.0 23.7 25.6 23.4 24.1 23.5 49.6 34.3 52.7 35.3 37.4 36.5 43.5 37.0 41.0 29.9 32.5 34.3 33.3 35.7 34.0 41.4 35.0 38.6 36.7 36.5 35.4 38.3 45.6 36.0 36.5 38.6 36.0 30.1 35.5 35.3 35.8 35.7 36.3 37.7 38.3 39.0 37.2 36.4 33.0 33.6 31.6 46.8 36.1 42.4 38.3 44.1 32.4 31.4 42.3 41.4 47.2 34.3 43.8 31.8 40.8 38.9 37.4 32.5 38.2 33.5 31.5 36.9 29.4 32.2 28.9 33.0 34.6 33.4 31.2 28.7 39.0 29.6 33.9 30.3 32.1 33.7 34.5 28.2 34.9 21.6 27.0 28.2 29.5 27.0 34.6 34.0 24.3 27.4 24.1 26.7 26.5 34.3 28.9 28.9 28.9 2 Illinois Hybrid 428 .. 41.4 3 Illinois Hybrid 762 42.4 4 Illinois Hybrid 945 . . 63.0 5 Station Yellow Dent . . 43 6 Illinois Hybrid 1077. . . . 42.8 7 Illinois Hybrid 587. 44 8 8 Station Yellow Dent . 42. 1 9 Illinois Hybrid 710 . . 30.3 10 Station Yellow Dent 42 6 1 1 Station Yellow Dent . 46.4 12 Illinois Hybrid 2. 43 4 13 Illinois Hybrid 4 . 46 2 14 Station Yellow Dent . . 45 . 1 15 Illinois Hybrid 144 47.2 16 Illinois Hybrid 414 . 47.0 17 Station Yellow Dent 49 Average Hybrids, 10 plots 44 8 Station Yellow Dent, 7 plots 44.5 (For Table 14 for the year 1938 see page 407.) TABLE 15. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE AND CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, 1939 (Expressed in percentage) No 1 Entry Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry matter of crop in Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves 1 Funk Hybrid G-94 . 45. 9 (l 8 8 4 5 5 9 9 2 7 3 9 9 21 22 21 18 20 19 21 21 22. 23 20. 22. 19. 22 20 21 5 6 ,5 1 6 3 4 o 6 4 5 8 9 28 28 27 26 28 26 29 27 31. 31 32. 30 26 28, 28. 29 3 9 6 3 .6 2 7 1 5 4 8 6 6 3 32.6 35.4 30.6 28.0 32.1 30.5 29.4 28.2 34.8 33.8 39.2 30.8 30.8 31.9 31.5 33.3 51 41 45 43 43 39 42 35 45 37 46 35 43 35 42 39 .3 .8 .0 .8 .8 x .3 9 7 4 6 3 8 9 7 26.7 28.2 29.2 31.8 30.4 34.4 32.5 36.9 30.1 34.7 29.9 30.9 28.1 38.6 31.0 33 22.0 30.0 25.8 24.4 25.8 25.8 25.2 27.2 24.2 27.9 24.1 33 . 5 28.6 25.6 26.1 27.3 2 Station Yellow Dent 47 3 Funk Hybrid G-125 . 41 4 Funk Hybrid G-167 . . 40 5 Station Yellow Dent . . . 45 6 Funk Hybrid G-167. ., . 40 7 Funk Hybrid G-125. .. . . 41 8 Funk Hybrid G-135 . . 34, 9 Funk Hybrid G-156 46 10 Station Yellow Dent . . 43. 11 Funk Hybrid G-156 .. . 44 12 Funk Hybrid G-135. .. . 40. 13 Funk Hybrid G-94 43 14 Station Yellow Dent . . 43. Average Hybrids, 10 plots . 42 Station Yellow Dent, 4 plots . . . .. 44 410 BULLETIN No. 494 [October, TABLE 16. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE, CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, AND NUMBER OF ERECT PLANTS, 1940 (Expressed in percentage) N Entry Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry mat- ter of crop in Erect plants Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves Newton field 1 Funk Hybrid G-135 . 34 .2 .1 .3 <> .3 .5 .8 .4 .8 .3 19.4 19.4 19.9 20.0 20.9 19.9 21.5 20.7 20.1 20.3 25.9 26.3 25.7 23.5 26.5 27.1 31.0 28.0 27.2 26.6 24 27 28 27 28 28 33 29 28 28 .7 ,9 .<; ,6 .5 5 ,3 .5 6 30 42 37 45 36 37 41 37, 40 38 ,8 ,5 ,3 4 ,2 ,8 2 7 .1 1 34.3 30.0 36.6 32.5 35.9 31.0 29.0 35.5 32.7 33.2 34.9 27.5 26.1 22.1 27.9 31.2 29.8 26.8 27.1 28.7 99.1 99.2 99.6 99.6 99.5 99.4 99.1 99.6 99.4 99.4 2 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . . 42 3 Funk Hybrid G-53 . . 43 4 Funk Hybrid G-87 . . . 58 5 Funk Hybrid G-80 . . . 41 6 Funk Hybrid G-77 . . 45 7 Funk Hybrid G-l 14 . . . 48 8 Funk Hybrid G-94 43 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 2 plots. . 42 Other hybrids, 6 plots . . . 45 Percival field 1 Funk Hybrid G-94. .. . . 48 .4 .5 .2 ,5 .5 4 .5 .0 .3 , 7 ,1 .8 .1 , 7 .2 .7 .6 .8 6 1 .5 3 21.1 21.9 21.9 24.1 20.5 22.3 21.4 19.6 19.9 18.9 21.5 23.1 20.1 21.4 22.8 20.4 22.6 20.0 20.3 20.9 21.4 21.6 33.9 32.3 30.0 34.9 31.6 33.7 30.3 30.0 26.5 27.0 31.4 31.5 29.6 31.0 32.0 27.4 28.5 32.5 28.4 30.2 30.7 31.8 33.2 34.1 31.8 36.3 31.5 36.9 31.1 30.9 31.5 29.4 32.1 34.3 32.8 31.5 31.8 31.5 32.4 32.7 32.2 32.4 32.8 31.6 49 51 47 50, 44, 48 43 49 51 49 44 52, 51 43 35, 50, 46 48. 52. 49 48 40. ,9 ,1 8 7 3 2 2 t I ,1 3 8 1 2 6 2 4 ,2 2 28.2 27.6 30.5 27.7 30.0 37.9 31.2 27.6 25.1 28.9 31.0 27.3 27.6 32.6 36.6 27.5 31.0 26.7 26.9 28.3 29.7 33.3 22.8 20.4 22.4 21.4 25.2 13.8 25.6 23.2 23.3 22.0 25.0 20.5 20.4 24.1 27.6 22.4 22.8 24.7 20.9 22.2 22.0 26.4 99.1 99.1 99.4 99.7 85.0 98.2 98.4 97.6 97.3 99.1 98.8 98.0 99.2 96.3 86.7 99.3 99.0 98.9 99.7 96.4 98.3 85.8 2 U. S. Hybrid 13 . . . 49 3 Illinois Hybrid 21 . . . 46 4 Funk Hybrid G-94 50 5 Station Yellow Dent . . . 48 6 Illinois Hybrid 200.. . . . 49, 7 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . . 46 8 Illinois Hybrid 201 . . . 46 9 Illinois Hybrid 206 . 49 10 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . . 45 11 Illinois Hybrid 448. . . 49 12 Illinois Hybrid 713 ...47 13 Funk Hybrid G-94 47 14 Illinois Hybrid 784. . . . . 48 15 Station Yellow Dent . . . 52 16 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . 48 17 Illinois Hybrid 838 . . . 49 18 Illinois Hybrid 863. 49 19 Funk Hybrid G-94 . . 49 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 7 plots . . . 48 Other hybrids, 10 plots . . . 48 Station Yellow Dent, 2 plots. . . . .. 50 1942} YIELDS OF CORN HYBRIDS HARVESTED FOR SILAGE 411 TABLE 17. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR SILAGE, CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, AND NUMBER OF ERECT PLANTS, 1941 (Expressed in percentage) 52! Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry mat- ter of crop in Erect plants Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves Newton field 1 Funk Hybrid G- 114. . . . 33 1 2 6 4 1 17.5 23.0 18.8 18.2 19.4 21.0 22.2 18.0 19.4 20.1 23. 23 23. 21. 22. ') 1 8 40.3 23.5 41.2 29.0 33.5 29.8 43.5 33.8 40.1 36.8 29 33 25 30 29 9 .1 (i 9 7 92.5 93.2 92.4 94.4 93.1 2 Funk Hybrid G87v 29 3 Funk Hybrid G-94* ... 35 4 Funk Hybrid G-135" . . . 30 Average of 4 hybrids ... 32 Percival field 1 Funk Hybrid G-94 . 32 ,7 .0 .4 .3 6 ,1 .5 .1 .2 .6 .8 .2 .9 .6 22.5 21.2 21.8 22.4 24.2 26.7 26.1 20.2 18.2 21.2 20.2 23.0 22.3 23.0 21.8 23.0 23.0 34.0 25.5 26.7 26.9 36.2 33.1 25.3 30.0 32.4 25.8 26.3 24.7 28.3 28.8 26.3 25.8 31.5 28.6 28.7 27.4 32.3 33.3 27.3 28.8 29.9 27.4 28.5 25.6 28.6 29.0 28.5 38.8 40.6 43.1 41.4 33.1 28.4 40.6 40.2 40.4 36.6 39.9 36.4 35.3 37.8 38.4 36.4 28.5 22.3 25.1 24.8 31.0 30.3 24.6 27.1 24.2 24.9 27.3 28.1 32.5 27.6 27.6 28.1 32 37 31 33 35 41 34 32 35 38 32 35 32 34 35 35 ,7 1 7 7 9 3 8 ,7 .4 5 9 4 2 .5 .1 4 96.7 96.2 96.0 96.4 94.8 88.5 97.1 85.1 90.0 95.7 85.1 67.3 96.9 96.6 91.5 67.3 3 Illinois Hybrid 21 ... 40 4 Illinois Hybrid 200. 39 6 Illinois Hybrid 201 . . . 37 7 Illinois Hybrid 206 . . . 32 8 Illinois Hybrid 448 . . 34 9 Funk Hybrid G-94 ... 40 1 1 Illinois Hybrid 784 ... 39 12 Illinois Hybrid 838 ... 41 13 Funk Hybrid G-94 37 14 Illinois Hybrid 863 . . 39 15 Station Yellow Dent 38 16 Funk Hybrid G-94 .. . 30 Average Funk Hybrid G-94, 4 plots . 35 Other hybrids, 8 plots ...37 Station Yellow Dent, 1 plot . . 38 Average of 2 plots. TABLE 18. DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF EAR, STALK, AND LEAF AT HARVEST FOR FODDER AND CONTRIBUTION OF EACH PART TO DRY MATTER OF ENTIRE CROP, 194 l a (Expressed in percentage) Entry Dry matter in sample Proportion of dry matter of crop in Ear Stalk Leaf Crop Ears Stalks Leaves U. S. Hybrid 13 .. . 53 9 5 5 8 5 1 5 2 22 20 35 23 24 28 28 35. 27 28. 26 27 1 8 .7 7 1 9 2 I 2 2 4 39 33 60 41 46 52 52. 55. 49 44 43 47 6 9 9 1 4 9 4 9 5 5 7 37.9 37.9 46.6 40.9 42.2 49.6 46 5 50.8 46.2 41.0 42.1 44.0 49 57 46 55 53 57 52. 50. 55. 52. 55. 53 4 5 6 6 3 6 2 4 1 22.3 18.9 28.4 20.7 21.6 20.1 22.2 22.1 20.6 26.2 18.7 22.3 28.3 23.6 25.0 23.7 25.1 22.3 25.6 27.9 24.0 21.7 26.3 24.7 Illinois Hybrid 21 . 55 Illinois Hybrid 200 . . 59 Illinois Hybrid 201 55 Illinois Hybrid 206 . . . 57 Illinois Hybrid 448. . . . 63 Illinois Hybrid 713 61, Illinois Hybrid 784 . 59. Illinois Hybrid 838 ... 60 Illinois Hybrid 863 57. Station Yellow Dent 51 Average of 10 hybrids 58 Average of data obtained in harvest of six replications (each plot 1/200 acre) at a stage of development when corn may be harvested for fodder (including grain). 412 BULLETIN No. 494 TABLE 19. RATINGS OF HYBRIDS FOR ADAPTABILITY TO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF ILLINOIS, FOR YIELDS OF FORAGE FOR SILAGE, AND FOR YIELDS OF GRAIN Hybrid Section where adapted* Years tested for forage Approximate rating on basis of Grain tests' 5 Forage tests b Illinois Hybrid 2 ....................... NC, C 1937 Fair Fair 4 ...................... C 1937 Good Good 13 ...................... C 1935 Fair Fair 21*.. . ........... NC.C.SC 1940,1941 Good Fair 39 ...................... NC, C 1935,1936 Good Fair 51.. C, SC 1935 Fair Fair 54 ...................... C, SC 1935 Fair Fair 99* ..................... N 1936 Poor Poor 121 ..................... NC 1936 Fair Good 129 ..................... C 1936 Fair Fair 144... .......... C 1937 Good Good 147 ..................... NC, C 1936 Good Good 151 ____ . ................ NC, C 1936 Fair Fair 156 ..................... S 1936,1938 Good Fair 160 ..................... C 1938 Good Fair 172... . N, NC 1936 Good Poor 200* .................... SC, S 1940, 1941 Good Fair 201* .................... NC, C 1940, 1941 Good Fair 206' .................... C, SC 1940,1941 Good Good 355 ..................... NC. C 1936 Good Fair 372... NC 1936 Fair Poor 384 ..................... NC 1935,1936 Good Fair 391 ..................... NC, C 1936 Good Good 392 ..................... NC, C 1935 Fair Poor 414 ..................... C 1937 Poor Fair 428. . . C, SC 1937 Fair Fair 448* .................... SC, S 1940, 1941 Fair Good 543 ..................... NC 1935,1936 Fair Fair 546 ..................... NC, C 1935.1936 Fair Fair 560 ..................... C 1935 Good Good 562... C 1935 Good Good 571 ..................... NC, C 1935 Fair Fair 587 ..................... C 1937 Poor Fair 710* .................... C, SC 1935, 1936, 1937 Fair Fair 713* .................... SC, S 1940,1941 Good Fair 762 ..... NC, C 1937 Fair Fair 784* .................... SC, S 1940,1941 Good Fair 838* .................... SC, S 1940, 1941 Good Fair 863* .................... SC, S 1940.1941 Good Good 945 ..................... C 1937 Good Good 1077 ........ NC. C 1937 Fair Fair 4003 .................... C 1936 Fair Poor 4006 .................... C 1936 Fair Poor U.S. Hybrid 13* ........................ NC.C.SC 1940.1941 Good Fair Funk Hybrid 206t ...... NC. C 1935 Good Fair 207t .................... C 1935 Fair Fair 220t .................... C 1935,1936 Good Good 912f .................... C 1935 Good Good G-53* .................. NC, C 1938, 1940, 1941 Good Fair G-77f ........... NC 1940 Fair Fair G-80" ................... C. SC 1940 Fair Fair G-87t ................... SC. S 1940.1941 Fair Good G-88* ................... SC. S 1941 Fair Good G-94* ................ C. SC 1938, '39. '40. '41 Good Fair G-114* ........ N.NE 1940.1941, Good Fair G-125* .................. S. SC 1939 Good Fair G-135* .................. SC. S 1939.1940.1941 Fair Poor G-147* .................. C. SC 1941 Fair Fair G-156t ................. C 1939 Fair Fair G-167 ................... SC 1939 Fair Good N - northern Illinois, NC - north-central Illinois. C = central Illinois. SC = South-centra) linois, S- southern Illinois. Kiood above average, fair- about equal to average, poor = below 'Hybrid in commercial production in 1942. fCommercial production discontinued. 605010-4224752