Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-18
CONDITIONS OF CORN CONTEST.
Will II. Wilson Gives Some Advice to
Marshall County Competitors.


Marshall County Competitors.
The editor of this department. has
expressed some disappointment that
farmers do not more freely make use
of it for questions and timely con-
tributions But, 1t would seem that
his farming experience Included niue
small grain or he should not be sur
prised at the difficulty OF getting nelp
in the straw. 1t is, proverbially, the
least sought job on the farm. True.
the word strawpile, rather than stack,
suggests that the modern blower has
Heightened the work, but that idea or
wind makes the emblem so much the
worse Hoping that some grains may
be found in the chaff, will try, ser
ously, to make use of this department
for answering questions and otherwise
advancing the proposed corn contest.
The indications are that it is to be
the event of the year in Marshall
county. If taken up in the right spirit.
TO make a thorough study of corn
breeding more than merely working
for the prizes. there are possibilities of
as great good in mental and moral
development as in increased quantity
and quality of corn yields.
The first question that has been ask
ed is: May girls compete? Thts Was
not discussed at the directors meeting.
but I have no doubt that girls VIII be
welcomed on equal terms With the
BOYS. Contestants will not be re-
quired to personally do the preliminary
fitting of the ground, blowing, harrow
ing, ETC., but should plant, cultivate,
weed. rogue, de-tassel, select, etc., as
far as possible without other help than
of an advisory nature. The corn may
be either in separate plots or one side
of a larger field. In the latter case
should be If possible in southwest cor.
ner to avoid cross fertilization. 70
rogue" means that all barren stalks
and those with decidedly weak ears.
should be destroyed before fully tas-
seled as being the worst kind of weeds.
It would also be we'll to de-tassel two
or three Of the adjoining rows If plant
ed with other corn. That will tend to
keep the prize seed pure without ma
terially reducing the yield of the rows
deprived OF their own pollen.
WILL H WILSON.
Secretary.
Corn Study.
In spite of the great Importance OF
the corn crop of the central west. II
must be acknowledged that until COM
paratiyely recent times but little skill
has been exercised In the direction
Of permanently improving strains or
varieties. Too many are contented to
grow corn. no finer classification be-
ing made in many instances than that
of white" and yellow"
The work of our experiment stations
is demonstrating that it is time -
right about face in this matter and
adopt some intelligent method of i'm
proving At the Iowa station during
1903 an experiment was conducted to
ascertain the relative yielding ability
of large number of ears similar in
appearance. The grain of each ear was
planted in a row by itself and all Civ
en- an equal chance. In one case the
yield per acre was 6,577.2 pounds while
in another it was as low as 1927
pounds per acre. This very striking
difference was due no doubt, to the
greater prepotency Of the seed from the
large yielding ear, as compared with
the prepotency Of the small-yielder.
It may seem impracticable on the
average IdEIn To TAKE Tile lIIlS W PidAI
the seed from individual ears in single
rows. and while ordinarily this is the
case, yet We believe that there are few
farmers in the corn belt who would not
find it profitable to select two or three,
or possibly half a dozen. Of the best
seed ears and plant the grain from each
of these in a single row. 1t would SIM
ply amount to cleaning out the seed
boxes during the process of planting
and Smelling an ear into each box.
After getting once across the field the
balance of the grain in the box should
be taken out and the grain from two
more ears in turn shelled Now I'll
would require but little effort to mark
these rows so that if no more special
attention were given them 1t would be
entirely practicable to pick these rows
rows by themselves in the fall IN