West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-30

From Rear End rlntform--Crentest
Benens Derived From object Le--
sons as 10 Good aud Had seeds.
The following is taken from an artl-
Gle entitled ~ Corn Gospel rraln," by
+. q. Moorehcad. in the Worlds Work
Tor June:
Corn is our greatest crop. Iowa pro-
duccs more corn than nuy other state
or country in the world. but its yield
did not satisfy Mr. !. q. Holden, pro
fcssor OF ugronomy at the Iowa State
Agricultural college. In 39U2 the aver
age yield for each acre was thirty-four
bushels. In 1908 the average yield was
thirty-One bushels. Professor Holden
said, "Why, with good weather, should
the high yield not only be maintained,
but increased" An increase OF only
one bushel an acre. using last years
crop rs basis. would mean an increase
for 1904 OF 7.3gS.200 bushels. worth
$2.G60. 1920 ut market price last DE.
cember
Professor Holden began 10 expert.
ment with corn from Iowa and other
corn producing states. After year
OF Planting and growing he found
that with proper seen corn and right
planting the yield Increased. These
scientific tests, made at the state ex-
perimcntal station, showed that the in
crease would range from five. To ten
bushels per acre for the fertile fields
and from two 10 Eve bushels per acre
for the less favored soil The secret
of the desired Increase, therefore, was
In the education OF the corn growers
Convinced OF this fact. he continued
his experiments and his comparisons
In 1893 Green and Winnebago coun-
ties had tile poorest average OF pro-
ductiylty 10 the acre-twenty bushels
yet the year before Green county
had produced thirty.one bushels TO the
acre aud Winncbago county thirty
| bushels. IL was significant change
Iowa produces more than one-sev-
enth OF al the corn grown In the
| United States. Professor Holden be-
| lieved that Iowa could produce millions
more bushels of corn than any other
state without cxbausting the soil lie
showed the Iowa State Agricultural
college students how To select the prop
er seed corn and how to plant It, but
the students were only small pro-
portion of the vast number OF corn
growers in the state. II his scientific
experiments We're to be of value they
must be generally known.
Professor Holden established corn
| Judging contests at the state fair an
nually held IN Des Molncs. Scholar
ships in the State Agricultural college
were offered as prizes TO the farm lads,
within certain ages, who brought from
their homes the best ears OF corn and
gave their reasons for the selection,
together with Information as to select
| Ing and planting seed corn. The CON
tests quickly grew IN favor, but the
work d!d not reach the great body OF
farmers throughout the state
Professor Holden then explained his
crop Increase plan to the leading
freight carrying roads traversing the
state. At first they doubted. then be-
came interested and finally entered in
to the proposition enthusiastically.
| The Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific
| railway was the first to offer a special
train and TO guarantee the expenses OF
the trip. The offer was accepted by
| Professor Holden
The corn gospel train" as ID was
| called, started In central Iowa, and 1t
was run on time table schedule. Two
weeks before the train started the list
OF all starting places and the schedule
time of arrival there were announced
on handbills and by notices sent by
the rural free delivery OF mail to every
farmer in territory contiguous to the
Rock Island houte. Half hour stops
were made for every town. Professor
Holden was accompanied by Profess
or Sage and his assistants, railway
officials and newspaper representa-
! tives.
Attached 10 the special train was a
large audience car, and In this Pro-
fessor Holden lccturcd TO the farmers
who met him at every station. When
the crowd was too large for the car.
overflow meetings were held on the
station platforms Frequently the as
sistants would be called upon to re-
peat the message to those on the out
skirts of the crowd who could not hear
Professor Holden The average at.
tendance at the stations was 100.
When a twenty minute address was
completed. Professor Holden conducted
a short question parliament. specimens
OF good and bad seed corn were ex-
libiled aud. with a last farewell and
cheer from the farmers. the train
departed fof the next station.
At the end Of tic third day Of the
trip $50 miles had been Travelled, ffty
stations visited. sixty lectures dciiy-
cred ogsrceatlng eighteen hours OF
talking. nfiCon Iowa counties had been
crossed and the message Of proper
planting carried 10 the tiilcrs Of
100000 acres Of iowa farm land. Of
which fully one.third IS devoted tc
corn growing
Whom thc Rock Island tour was com
pietcd. another WIS Immediately begun
on tho Dos Moincs. Iowa Falls and
Northern rafwoy The third trip was
made on The Chicago. Burlington and
Quincy railroad. Nearly one-half OF
the nlnciy-ninc counties. embracing
$50 farming communities In tho state
were visited. ana 1900 -mors
than one.half OF the corn growers oi
the state were personally Interested
AZ the conclusion OF his first trip pro
A aUar fsf f,fsrf ssr.f.