The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1891-07-31
How to Select Crop Specimens for the
WORLDS Fair.

How TO Select Crop Specimens for The
WORLDS Fair.
LINCOLN. Neb., July 25.-The fol
lowing communications are of impor
lance to western farmers as indicating
the best manner of selecting specimens
OF this years crops for exhibition al
the worlds fair. 1t is the result OF
careful investigation by those particu-
larly qualified to discuss the subject.
The last legislature made an appro-
priation OF so, 600 to gather and dis
play Nebraska products at the world
Columbian exposition to be held at
Chicago in 1898, and the pride of the
state depending upon the united action
of the agriculturalists in securing and
preserving for hat exhibit the best
and most perfect of our cereal produc-
lions. | deem it important that the
farmers be requested through the me-
dunn Of the press of the state to gath
er specimens from the crops now ready
for harvest as an assurance Of their
pride and interest in presenting to the
world the products of our soil at Thai
exposition. This effort may cost time
and labor, but it seems 10 me that it
is the sure way to demonstrate to the
world the fertility Of our soil and COM
pete successfully with VI sister cereal
producing states.
If reports can be credited that come
from all parts OF the state. we have
the most abundant crop of all kinds OF
grain ever produced on Nebraska soil.
Many farmers are confident that their
wheat will yield from twenty-five to
forty, barley forty to seventy-five and
oats fifty and seventy-five bushels per
acre. Shall we improve this crop year
to fortify ourselves against the compe-
tition OF the largest display OF cereal
products e gathered under one roof
in the history Of the world?
We must make an effort to preserve
from this crop a sample of the best
variety ami most perfect grain the pro
ducts of our soil, if only to verify the
statement, so often made, that our state
has no equal for production and fer
tiiity. A. G.. SCOTT.
Hon. 4. G.. Scott has written a letter
concerning the great fair of 1898, and
makes some valuable and timely sug-
gestions. Fully endorsing Mr.. SCOTS
words, would like to remark that now
is the time TO gather small grain sam
pies in the straw. II is an easy mat
ter to show threshed grain in d meas
ure, but the person looking at it has
no conception of the plant that pro-
duced the grain. Nebraska wants to
place on exhibition at the worlds fair
in Chicago in 1893, car loads Of her
small grain as seen in the field, when
the self-binder harvests the grain.
Now is the time to prepare for this
grand exhibit, and | suggest that every
e~nterprising farmer in the state pre-
pare q bundle OF each kind grown bv
him.
Select the best and pull up carefully
by the roots. taking pains not to break
or crack the stalk. Make the bundles
or sheaves not less than four inches in
diameter. When firmly tied, tie the
sheaf in the middle close 10 the heads
and close, not over six inches, from
the roots, always tying with u soft
string. Hang up by the roots in a
dark room where no mice, rats or
chickens can get at it. If every farmer
in Nebraska will prepare a sheat as
above described OF each kind of grain
produced by him and take good care
of it and the same is carefully collected
and kept in good order, n Of the
grandest object lessons, showing the
capacity of Nebraska's rich soil can be
made at the worlds fair. | would sug-
gest thai some one be appointed TO
take charge OF the collection and pre-
~servation of samples of grain of all
kinds.
Great care must be exercised in the
handling of these sheaves, and some
suitable place should be provided where
they could be stored until the time
comes to place the same on exhibition.
The grain grown mex season will not
be in time to be placed on exhibition
at Chicago. Now is the time, and |
urge every farmer in Nebraska to pre-
pare a bundle each OF rye, oats, bar
lev, millet. flax, sorghum, clover, tim
Othy and corn on the stalk. Some one
will have to take charge OF these col
l~ections in each county. | would sug-
gest that some of the county officers
would be the properpersons TO receive
the county contributions, take care OF
them and hold them subject to the or
der OF some person or persons author
lied to collect them for the state.
l would ask every newspaper pub
lished in the state to publish the fore
going and that they ali editorially urge
the farmers of their counties TO furn-
samples of the great cereals grown
in this state. Let every sample be
with the name OF the producer,
section, town and range where
grown.
l.. W. GILCHRIsT.