The object of the following experiment is to determine the proper time to cut corn, so as to get the most profitable returns from the crop. The ear is the most valuable part of the corn crop for the western farmer, but there is great value in the stover. Hence, it is important to know whether we can obtain both these values in full, or whether obtaining full value of the one necessitates a decrease in the value of the other.

We selected twelve rows of Learning corn, of even quality and quantity, and long enough to make four shocks twelve hills square. These shock squares were laid off September 20th, and twenty stalks of even ripeness and size were selected and labeled on each square, that we might have samples that would represent the progress of ripening as nearly as possible.