The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-01-15


ET.
sn,ndence of The Progressive Farmer.
After an experience of 25 years as
corn breeder. the writer has con-
,r5ed that the size of the ear in
am exerts a considerable influence
+be amount of grain which it pro-
,oas per acre. Furthermore, the
rnerience of a large number of up
date farmers throughout the corn
hates. with whom I have been in
,tensive correspondence during
bese years, exactly comedies with
ny own.
According to the writer's obser-
ston, during more than quarter
q century experience in breeding
he corn plant, the average corn
rover throughout the corn belt, in
eIecting his annual supply of seed,
Ivavs selects the largest ears that
L can find in his crop, (no matter
ow large the variety.) By this
node of procedure he annually OBJ
aims little larger consequently a
ster maturing variety of corn. The
rsze of the present day in Uncle
am's domains, is for things of the
umbo order.
After my experience in growing al
most all of the new and old varieties
\ corn. from all points of the COM
bass. have concluded that there is
certain amount of corn n-producing
butriment in any given soil and
eason. And that any equally we'll
red varieties of corn, whether they
have small or large, short, or long,
Ihick or thin, or only one, or six or
more ears per stalk, if their seed be
properly planted, according to each
PARTICULAR variety, and equally cul-
i7atsd. all other conditions being
pQual, they will produce about an
EQUALLY valuable product.
\ provision of nature seems to die
ate, that Of several equally we'll
bred varieties, which may be grown
lndpr ike conditions, on any given
oil, in any particular year, the yield
DfeOually valuable shelled corn per
lcre must not greatly vary. But of
dozen supposedly equally well-bred
Farieties, which may be grown on
my farm, most generally, some one
Dr two varieties will be decidedly
hyperion. and one or two, perhaps,
pill be decidedly inferior, as regards
Teld and quality. The remaining
Varieties will show graduated de-
Tees of productiveness. The largest
yielding variety of good quality, will
be the highest bred-mOre free from
barrenness and it's attendant degen-
eracy. 1t will also be noticed that
its stalk is not too large in proper
bon to size of it's ear, and that its
stalks seldom produce more than one
ear each.
The writer has demonstrated tC
bis own satisfaction, during a long
series Of years of actual field prac-
rCe, that the capacity to produce
more or less merchantable shelled
corn per acre, is regulated by numer
Gus checks of natural selection, ant
by the degree of general improve
mems Of the variety, or varletle
grown. And that variety of corr
that does not scatter its producing
powers in trying to produce NOR
than one good ear per stalk, through
themeans of concentration of energy
always produces the largest yield o
mercLantable grain.
During the past five years ther
has been considerable discussion Il
the agricultural press, in relation t
TIE Comparative merits of large an
small cobbed varieties of corn. Som
Writer'S advocating large cobs, an
still others medium-sized cObs. Th
Writer'S experience in the center o
'ae greatest corn belt on earth
agrees exactly with that of the ILL
nols Agricultural Experiment Static
tests, near Urbana, Illinois. Ou
station, after exhaustive tests with
large number of varieties, during
Series of years, has secured the lars
e>r average yield in merchantabl
>-e-ei corn per acre, from medium
>ilal corn, with medium sized cob
aLl l1ng grains. l have in my pos
session two ears of white dent cor
%, about exactly the same length an