Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-11-13
CROPS ARE G
Farming on Scientific Principles
Proving of Value.
important Results Of CnrcfulInycsu
cation by Government Experts
Growth In the Corn
States.

Not so many years back II was the de-
light Of the granger and the para
GTapher alike TO poke gentle fun at the
scientific farmer" AS a patron of hus-
bandry he was alleged I o be in doubt
concerning the proper time TO plant ell
Eilage and he was urged to invent out
Of his wisdom a process for the dehorn-
ing Of hydraulic rams. says the New
York Mail M Express.
We have heard less Of these pleasant
tries as the years have added proof OF
the practical advantage accruing TO the
farmer from the scientific investiga-
tioLs carried on Systematically by the
government or spOraGically BY the
chemist and amateur Of agriculture.
The latest and most important result of
this activity is briefly announced by
Prof. p. G. Holden. OF the Ames agri-
cultural college in these words: Let
every farmer In the seven great corn
states give a few winter evenings To the
task and 4S0. 900 900 bushels will b.
added TO the annual crop OF the corn
belt"
Prof. Holden does not ask for an in
crease OF the IS. 5000 coo acres in the
seven states which grew each over IOJ.-
GOO 600 bushels Of corn In 1~9O2-namely,
Illinois. Iowa. Nebraska. Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Indiana and OhiO-hc does not
propose any form or method Of ar. ,Ial
culture; hG simply ASSURES results to the
farmer who will plant lnU live" Eor-
nels Of corn in every 30 hills. Very sim
pie. yet altogether new. the farmers
thrnIrhHtf Inuua have if#.F,yl a., ,lg,
advice, and they are reported as being
convinced that for Orcl a Professor In
an agricultural college HIS n reform
that Is thoroughly practi al"
To find out how mach the farmers OF
the state were annually losing by not
planting corn properly. Prof. Holden
last year sent 1000 letters 10 all parts
OF Iowa rs Ing the Lumblr # stalks In
each hill IN cornnclds. He fCu.d tina;
the stand was but - PER cent. Cf what
he haG & ToaCtrated will produce the
largest yield. In making his tables he
counted either tire" or COur stalks MS
a 100 pr cat. stand. Fer ten years the
average yi5lG II CCrn H. Iowa has beu1
approximately % b'.sh,!s 30 the acre.
Such n yirld with q 40 pr c.Lt. stand.
the average In a number OF years. would
become 30 bushels with n 100 per cent.
stand.
Proi. Holden put his theory to the
test last year, planting several thou
sand acres with seed sorted by hand and
through planters carefully adjusted 10
drop the proptT tGmblr Of Kernels.
Previously tho best !itld was IS bushels
an acre. List !ear The ol'rlGc yield
was ~ bushels. or the ait 50 prccrt.
Is estimated To BE- GU" 10 the stand and
20 per cent. To the sun -iGr terminating
power OF the seed. IT, the Experimental
fields under Prof. IIG.CGn's control the
yield has never bC,L less thar 60 BUSH
els an acre since 1856.
There is something hEc n /. nnGible
In this: something to ava - 10 adj
miratiCn Of the hrrryha:,t o OF
toll, wdu nay still ''s'ruet iit !, rrine
OF the sol. physicist, h.: whose common
sense Ia alive to the ftr; that / pays to
SIT ~ n few winter mis- . ::d sort
grains OF Germ. whrr. If GOrc t,Iry-
whCr" In the belt. the rtsul; sill add
iSO.OO0.OOO bushels to the crop. or. about
$1i4. 900 900 to the farmers bank ac-
count.