Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 112]

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110 From this it will be seen, that, with the exception of one variety (Geseseo) the loss of weight in the last three was less than in the month preceding. To determine the loss of weight of the single ears the ten ears of each variety were weighed separately when gathered October 6, and again at the close of the investigation February 28. The following tabular statement shows the result obtained: Loss by weight of separate ears of Corn from Oct. 6 to Feb. 28, in 100 parts.

No. of ear. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cameron. 15 14 19 9.5 9.5 9.6 10 10 10 9.5 Wright's Gold. 20 23 28 18 19 20 18 21 21 17 Geneseo. 13 23 18 19 20 14 18 14 15 14 Murdock. 19 19 21 17 20 19 15 16 14 16 Thomas. 21 28 26 27 28 23 18 22 19

14

Mammoth. 35 33 30 30 49 35 43 29 35 36

From this table it will be seen that there is a wide difference in the loss of weight of the individual ears of the same variety, due no doubt to different stages of maturity. The same statement holds good for the "Mammoth" corn in comparison with the other varieties, although all of the ears were apparently matured, and yielded good sound corn at the close of the investigation. After the last weighings were made, on Feb. 28, the corn was shelled and the weight of cobs determined. The results obtained are as follows: Weight of cob in 100 parts by weight of Com in the ear.

Cameron. 12.3 W r i g h t ' s Gold. 15 Geneseo. 16 Murdock. 12.6 Thomas. 11 Mammoth. 14.4

From this table it can readily be found by calculation, that for a bushel, or fifty-six pounds of kernels, a bushel of corn in the ear would weigh as follows:

Cameron. 63.8 lbs. W r i g h t ' s Gold. 65.9 lbs. Geneseo. 66.6 lbs. Murdock. 64.1 lbs. Thomas. 63 lbs. Mammoth. 65.4 lbs.

According to these figures it would appear that the weight usually taken for a bushel of old corn in the ear, namely, seventy pounds, is too great. In reference to the loss of weight which corn undergoes as already shown, an interesting calculation can be made, which may serve as a guide to the farmer in disposing of his crop.