The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-20
AGRICULTURAL.
Corn and Hogs.

bank accounts of those farmers who have
made a speciality of corn, clover and hogs
srould be an incentive to other farmers to
learn from and initiate them. The March
number of the Corn and Hog Journal has
some practical suggestions about seed,
planting and cultivation, that are well
worth reading. 1t says:
CHANGE YOUR SEED CORN.
1t has become a fact well known to all
good farmers, that our older varieties of
cereals are always running out, and that a
change of seed is very important, in order
to secure good crops. Those varieties
known 100 years ago are now nearly en-
tirely out of cultivation. Whoever may
have noticed when the FultZ, Lancaster,
Red Mediterranean and Clauson wheats
were first introduced into the West from
the Eastern states, have seen that in many
instances where yields were almost double
those of the older varieties then grown.
After having produced several good crops,
they, too, have almost run out, and are
fast going the same road that all the old
varieties have gone.
In this age of new Inventions, old ma
CHIMES, cereals, etc, are continually giving
way to new and improved ones. In one
short life we can see the practical develop
ment of human ingenuity, and become
convinced that we are not only subject to
laws of gradual advancement, but that our
forward strides in the sciences, agriculture
ana mechanics have been great indeed. l
feel confident that on two-thirds or more
OF the farms in the West, that a change of
seed would increase not only the yield,
but also the certainty of the crop. Many
FARMERS know that greatly increased yields
and quality of grain may be obtained by
sowing tried and true new kinds of
seed. In addition to the profit in selling
seed to their %neighbors at good prices.
Hon. Isaac Morton said: That the pro-
duct of one quart of a new variety of
wheat brought from North Carolina in
1913, had in nine years benefited the farm
ers of Preble county, Ohio, alone more
than 100000 by the gain over what they
would have had, if they had continued us
ing the old varieties
A young man is full of life and vigor.
When an old man is about ready to go to
that bourne from which no traveller ever
returns. So, also, of old and new varieties
OF wheat, oats, corn, etc.
Every old farmer can recall varieties that
yielded abundantly in his younger days,
but are out of cultivation now and their
names almost forgotten.
Of several varieties of corn that may be
tried on any particular soil, one will yield
almost double what some other will. The
same Is true of hardness, and other quail
tiles.
IL pays big to get fresh seed from a diff
1erent locality and soil. 1t seems almost
a new being come to life from the corpse
OF an old one. even if it be only the same
" hoNt Dceu Knowing, Indeed.
the proht of grain production depends to
a very great extent upon growing the right
varieties, there being many thousands of
instances where 70 to 80 bushels of the
best quality of corn per acre mught lust
as well be grown, instead of So to 40 BUSH
els, IL only the right varieties are grown.
Inc ola run down sorts, which YOU have
peen growing for years, should be dropped.
ana a stock of vigorous new thoroughbred
varieties be obtained. After you have tried
them' you will see plainly they are as
superior to the old run out sorts as are
thoroughbred cattle to scrubs.
1t will only cost you about % cents an
acre to plant your whole crop with the
vigorous and large yielding new sorts of
corn, and which may be obtained from al
most any reliable seed firm. And I can
safely say, that, If you get the right sort,
your yield will be greatly increased and
IN many instances doubled. In a letter
JUST received from a gentleman in Central
Missouri, he says: Il am satisfied that
my yield has been increased at least one
thlrd by growing the corn you sent me-"
ASK a German farmer what he thinks
about changing his seed. He will almost
invariably tell you that he believes in it.
ana that he believes in it strongly. AT
least he was so brought up in Germany,
In which country it is practiced to a great
er extent than in any other country in the
world.
vi oILIL1 L
Every good corn belt farmer takes pride
and sees profit in having and planting the
right kind of seed corn; that which will
under favorable conditions, produce a good
stand, a vigorous growth, and, in the end,
a first-class crop of remarkable strength
and uniformity along the lines suggested
by the Corn Journal scale Of points. 1t
takes well bred corn to do this; and herein
lies the chief advantage of what is known
as pedigree" or "thoroughbred'' corn. The
careful hybridizing, followed by years of
expert cultivation and selection, has de-
veloped the good, and, to a great extent.
eliminated the bad, besides developing a
tendency In the direction of large yields.
More of the right kind Of corn is being
planted and grown each year. The farmer
has brains; he knows a good thing when
he sees 1t, and just as soon as he is con-
WINGED that some other man has a variety
which for his soil and season is superior
to that which he has been growing, he can
not afford to do otherwise than get a
start in the right kind of corn, procuring
seed near home If possible; a thousand
miles away If necessary.
Every one must study his own REQUIRE
ments. His soil, his season and the pur-
poses for which his crop was intended, are
points that must be considered by the
farmer who is selecting seed for his own
We select our seed corn in the
fail, preferably in the field when husking.
~ ~ VI q hOuluII
thick-set, vigorous stalk, bearing abundant
and one large, well-developed ear.
There is no opportunity for judging the
stalk when selections are made after husk-
ing.
TO INCREASE YIELD.
Many farmers sustain a loss in the yield
or the crop by using small ears of corn for
SEED. The largest ears that will mature in
the locality should invariably be used for
SEED, and In fact corn can be bred up to
grow large ears, as the principle applied to
the breeding of live stock is just as ap-
pl1cable in the growing of grains and vege-
tables. 1t is generally estimated that 100
good-sized ears of corn will make a bushel
OF 20 pounds in the cob, or Sc pounds
shelled. Now, if the size of ears can be in
creased so that 70 ears will make a bushel
there will be a gain in yield of nearly one.
tnlru, out II the ears are only increased in
size TWO ounces each, it will make an in
crease In yield of nearly one-sixth. If the
average of 20 ears make a bushel. then
there will be an increased yield per acre
of % bushels. ~
Ii corn is planted 8 feet s inches both
ways, and two stalks to the hill as the
average, there will be 5000 ears to the acre,
and, allowing 100 ears to the bushel, there
VIII be 90 bushels per acre. If the size of
the ears is increased two ounces each. it
Will give an increased yield per acre of IL
bushels. If the ears are increased in size
four ounces each, it will give an increase of
~ bushels per acre, or 1900 bushels on 100
acres.
That ears may be grown to weigh ono
pound each is clearly seen in the fact that
ears have been grown to weigh 2 ponnds
each. The average, Therefore, may and
ought 10 be raised tO ono poYn1