Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-12-10
AONEYF|)R FARMERS
Prof. Holden'S New Idea About
How to Plan Com.
SORT SEEDCORN BYHAND

FNN0 sTOOySOSySN0 0doTClo ~ e'iN
Crop of the Corn BeIt-And II
Would Require Only a Few Win
ter Evenings Work.
LET every farmer in the seven
great corn States give a few winter
evenings and 4S0OO0OO0 bushels will
be added to the annual crop of the
corn belt"
In these words Prof. P. G.. Holden
Of the Ames Agricultural College sum
marizes the results, to be expected OF
the campaign instituted by himself
and the Iowa Corn Growers Associa'
ton.
1t isn't increased acreage that Prof.
Holden wants; it is better results
from the present acreage. 1t is not by
any artificial culture that he would
bring about these results. He prom
ises that they shall be realized if the
farmer does the simple thing of put
ting hundred live kernels of corn in
every thirty hills.
Entirely new in agriculture is the
experimental work of Prof Holden,
and throughout Iowa he has convinced
meetings of farmers that for once a
professor in an agricultural college has
reform that is thoroughly practical.
In a word, his plan requires only the
sorting by hand of seed corn and the
filling of plates in corn planters in
such a way as to drop the required
number of grains of corn in each hill.
To find how much the farmers OF
Iowa are losing each year by not prop
erly planting corn, Prof. Holden last
year sent 1000 letters to all parts OF
Iowa asking the number of stalks IN
each hill in corn fields. He found that
the stand was but 70 per cent. of what
he has demonstrated will produce the
largest yield, and last years corn crop
was generally considered good stand.
The other day he himself Inspected
twenty-four Of the best corn fields he
could find.
81 found" he reported to meeting
of the Iowa Corn Growers Association
In Sioux City, from 80 to S6.2 per
cent of a perfect stand. The average
loss was 2S.7 per cent.
Il do not mean by this that the field
that has five stalks in each hill is bet
ter than one with four and that hills
of six stalks are better than hills OF
five. I have found that the best re-
suits are obtained from an average
of about three and third stalks to
hill.
"I have found one stalk in a hill
will produce but one-third as much
corn as a proper number OF stalks,
two stalks three-fourths of yield and
five stalks three-fourths of yield. In
making my tables l counted either
three or four stalks a 100 per cent.
stand.
For ten years the average yield OF
corn in Iowa has been approximately
50 bushels. A yield of thirty-ive bush
els with a 20 per cent. stand, which is
the average found in number OF
years. would become fifty bushels with
a 100 per cent stand"
The acreage planted in corn in the
seven States growing over 1OOOOO,OOO
bushels of corn in 1902 was: Illinois,
o.623. $50; Iowa, 9,302,6SS; Nebraska,
1871 962: Kansas, 7,451, 693; Missouri,
6,775. 1913; Indiana, 4,52O,937; Ohio, 81
9O0,224.
The combined acreage was about 49,
100000. A gain of ten bushels an acre,
or a 90 per cent. stand, which Prof.
Holden thinks is easily attainable,
would mean an increase in the annual
yield of these States Of 4S0,O0O,O00
bushels.
On the big Funk farm at Blooming
ton. H., Prof. Holden's theory was
carried out last year. Several thou
sand acres were planted with seed
sorted by hand, through planters adj
1usted to drop the proper number OF
kernels.
Previously, the best yield was %
bushels an acre. Last year the aver
age was 70 bushels. OF the gain, Prof.
Holden estimates so per cent. was due
TO the stand and 20 per cent. to the
excellent terminating power of the
seed. In the experimental fields under
Prof. Holden's control the yield has
never been less than GO bushels since
1896.
The owner of 1000 acres Of corn
ground at Oldebolt, Ia, this spring
bought six corn planters and put them
N work hurriedly. He has examined
mis- field and found stand OF IL IA
stalks to each hill. He estimates his
loss at $4,000. He has told that here
after he will plant according to the
Holden method.
Jaw. that isn't practica$H objected a
farmer in one-of- Prof. Holden's meet
lngs. 1.-THE idea of me sorting grains OF
corn by hand. l have something bet
ter to do"
Gail right" answered Prof Holden.
eve will say that you have the work
done by a man to whom you pay 81 a
day. He will SORT at least bushel OF
shelled corn every day.
THAT bushel will plant seven acres
of ground. The fact that it has been
sorted will add at least ten bushels to
the acre yield. At an average price of
80 cents a bushel that would mean a
return of $21 for the 50 you invested
in having the corn sorted.
''But you can do it as well on winter
evenings when it will have cost you
nothing"