Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-23
|ONA'S POSSIBILITIES
Work of Professor Holden of
Ames Agricultural College
Is Highly Praised
SCIENCE OF CORN PLANTING
Mr.. Holden Has Made This Special
Study and Calculates That Testing
and Planting Corn Scientifically
Would Increase the Annual Yield in
Iowa 100000 Bushels.

Iowa 100000 Bushels.
Sioux City, Feb. 23.-"1 don't believe
people in Iowa appreciate what Profess
sor p. G. Holden of the Ames agricul-
sacrifice he is making for it, said Will
c. Whiting, member of tile Legislature
and member of the Iowa Louisiana pur-
chase commissions:
Professor Holden is a specialist In
corn. He knows all about it. That's
more than most of US farmers know.
He graduated from the Ann Arbor uni
versity, full of the notion of making q
study of corn, scientifically and prac-
tically. He was good enough prac-
teal farmer to become manager OF the
Funk Bros big bonanza farm in 1lli-
nois, of $4,000 acres. So there isn't any
occasion for claiming that he is only u
book farmer.
While he was running the biggest
farm in Illinois. he continued his corn
experiments He figured out that corn
isn't planted perfectly with any ma
chinery made, and that to get perfect
corn perfectly planted would greatly
increase the yield. He spent $4,000 one.
winter testing seed corn and then run
ming it thru planters. The object was
to assure that no kernels should get In
to the seed corn which would not run
thru the planter properly. When a
planter gets clogged it Is liable, be-
cause of one kernel being too large or
of bad formation. to put too few kerr
nels in one hill and too few in several
others So he put all his seed corn thru
planters and threw away all that caus-
ed clogging.
.The result was an increase OF $4,000
bushels in one year on a i,oOo-acre
planting; that is, over 20 per cent. Inat
was not for single year, either; ne
made that average gain for period oil
years.
while he was doing this work he
made up his mind to devote himself
to this special work; to developing pet
ter varieties of corn, to getting them
acclimated in different sections SO that
a farmer in any locality should be able
to get varieties adapted to his condi-
tons, and to educating farmers in the
benefits of proper testing and seeding.
HE was earning an immense income
in Illinois getting per cent on all he
when he asked to be released. He had
been attracted to Iowa first because oil
reading about the Sioux City corn pai-
aces. He has series OF big pnoto-
graphs of the six palaces, and points
them out to visitors as the original at
traction that brought him to Iowa.
HE secured place in the faculty OF
the agricultural college less than two
wears ago, as professor of agronomy.
which is the management OF lana ena
its culture as Il source OF wealth.. he
gets far less money a. Ames, but Is
pursuing a work in which he is deeply
~ saw in the Tribune the other day
an article about his work. saying that
he calculated that testing and planting
corn scientitically-anI yet by meth
dds that every farmer can easily en-
increase the annual yield
in Iowa 50.000,O00 bushels. Well.
wish every farmer in Iowa could be
to understand :Ist what he is
doing and just what his methods are.
1t would mean millions to Iowa.
professor Holden has organized
winter school of two weeks at Ames
for farmers, at which they can study
his work and methods and learn all
about his experiments. He has prom
ised me some of his premium seeds, to
be distributed among people who want
to experiment with them. Enough Of
them will be sent to plant a space of
twenty hills square to everybody who
will apply to me and agree to follow
From the product the raiser
will be required to send thirty ears to
the winter school next winter to COM
pete for series of valuable premiums,
cash and medals, which the Louisiana
is offering.
1.-The total value of these premiums
Will be about $4,000 the first prizs be-
ing diamond medal worth $500. After
sending his thirty prize ears, each
his own use. We are going to bring to
iowa the worlds premium for corn if
1t can be done, and we have had enough
encouragement to make us confident.
I would like to see some Eleventh dis
trict farmer carry off the worlds prize
for corn, and l think it should be pos
sible
Iowa will have the best agricultural
exhibit at ST. Louis. don't say that
because agriculture has been placed
under my special care. but because the
whole commission stan:,s with me and
is disposed to be liberal about the
agricultural department. With the best
agricultural state in the world, and the
entire commission determined to prove
our primacy to the whole world, why
shouldn't we VIM"
FOOD FOR SNOW BOUND TRAINS.
Relief Parties Reach Passengers STALL
ed in Newfoundland.
st. Johns, N. r., Feb. 23.-Relief par