Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-09-04
REALM OF KING CORN.
States With Millions of Acres Of This
Crop-CarnivaIs Held.

States With Millions of Acres Of TIL
Crop-CarnivaIs Held.
The corn plant grows in about ever
State in the Union, and people through
out the country think they are fami
liar with it; but to appreciate wha
corn really means one should make |
tour through some of the Western
States where the fields may be mile
rather than acres IN extent, and wher'
the harvest OF q farmer means neare
1000 than 1000 bushels. It is in thil
part of the country that one can al
leasily get lost in cornfeld as he would
in forest, 80 vast are the fields. In
the bottoms" of Kansas and Nebraska
a man riding through patch on horse
back will often be hidden from view
as the tops of the plants extend above
his head, resembling young trees In
their proportions.
1t is no wonder that the people of
many of the prairie States celebrate
the coming of king Corn" as the
Southerner does the appearance of
"King Cotton, y for some of these Com
monwealths alone produce enough corn
in year to feed a nation. The corn
patch of Iowa, which covers over g.
100000 acres yearly, sometimes pro-
duces 100000, 900 bushels. Nebraska
is another 5000, 900 acre State, but
Kansas, the State of the sunflower,
takes the lead with nearly 100000
acres each year devoted to this cereal.
There are counties in Kansas where
one can see square miles-not acres
planted entirely with corn, where
fields are so large that standing at one
end the visitor sees the horizon un-
broken by anything except mass of
plants swaying in the breeze.
1t is not strange that the corn har-
vest is made the occasion of fetes or
carnivals in some of the Western com
munities. The idea probably originat-
ed from the corn festival of the Indians,
but the red man would never recognize
the old-time festival in the transforms
tfon which it has undergone. Weeks
before harvest time preparations are
made. The prominent citizens of the
town contribute to fund for decora-
tion, music and usually the entertain
ment of townspeople and guests at
banquet.
The services of some leading orator
are secured and the Governor is invit-
ed to attend with other notables. A
special week is set apart of time
when the farmers have finished gath
ering the grain and have leisure to at
tend. The railroad companies are in
duced to offer special rate for trans
portation. and with others offer prizes
for the best designs and decorations.
The programme is arranged, consist
ing of professions, public meetings,
concerts and other attractions which
will interest the townspeople and visi-
tors. Generally committee of lead
ing citizens. headed by the Mayor.
takes charge, and large sums of money
are expended in arranging the carni. |
val.
Each resident vies with his neighbor |
in the decorations, and there is shown
what can be done with the grain in
honor of which the celebration is held. !
Some of the designs are truly wonder |
full. AS single stalks can be procured |
which are fifteen feet in height, an op-
portunity is offered to construct pago-
las, booths and other ornamental build
ings with walls and roofs of the plant.
The stalks have such strength and light
ness that they can be easily made into
of castles, forts and
historic structures. The leaves are
worked into an incOnceivable variety
If designs. The women and girls make
costumes out of the husks. even to hats
Ind bonnets. They are woven into
,aragons and umbrellas, while fre-
luently the front of a building will be
hidden by covering of them, thirty |
,r forty feet in length, with openings
cut for the windows and doors.
The manufacture of corn millinery
aas become an art among the Western
At carnival held in Atchi-
ION the principal milliners of the two
produced some wonderful creations
1f head gear entirely from the silk,
lusks and tassels. Many of them were
worn during the carnival week by the
oelles of the place.-New York Tribune.