Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-27
CORN AND ALFALFA NOTES.
Suckers on the Corn and Purslane in
the Alfalfa.

the Alfalfa.
The Importance of corn breeding
of growing individual ears in separate
rows, lis emphasized this year In seV-
eral ways. The unusually large pro-
portion of suckers in many corn Heids,
is remarkable, and most farmers seem
to believe it due to the peculiar season
we have had. 1t is, however, probable
that this abnormal growth is, IN tne
large part chargeabe to the foreign
sect planted IN larger acreage than Tor
.nany years That appears to be the
explanation here at Sunny Knoll,
where, of six or eight varieties, the on
ly one in which the suckers are num-
erous enough to be serious damage
is 4 field of Legal Tender. The orig
inal stand was slightly deficient, but
it - now much too heavy. One cor
ner especially is almost impenetrable.
Four adjoining hills taken ut random
count I'D twenty seven stalks, and all
but three or four of the suckers so
large and robust it requires careful ex-
animation to distinguish them from the
twelve parent stalks. Being unfam1l-
lar with the variety personally, l am
not sure whether this Is common
characteristic of it generally or only
of the particular strain that happened
to be shipped in here. On equally ricn
ground, the Silver Mine and Reld
Yellow Dent do not stool nearly so
much To remedy this and similar
faults, it is evident that in selecting
seed corn the stalk requires as care
fui study as the ear. Experiment sta
ton bulletin No. II, in the record of
In 1ividual ears, planted in separate
rows, side by side, shows that ear NO.
20, (the heaviest yielder of AID. was
entirely free from suckers, while ear
No. 81, produced 106 suckers. or II per
cent The range of barren stalks was
from 15 to 21.5 per cent; of broken
stalks from to 81 per cent. and the
VI cid from $500 to 90.56 bushels per
acre These results are from the best
fO2 ears they could select They
were doubtless, all very fine in appear
ance. and had equal care and that OF
the best, but with what wide Naria-
tons.
1t is true there are some farmers.
especially in the eastern states and
dairy districts. with whom the stalk
even prefer corn that suckers freely,
but, in the average Iowa corn field,
there IL no worse weed than the SUCK
ers. except the barren stalks, hope
that the boys in the contest are all
giving this matter earnest consluefa-
ton, and will take proper action on
the barren stalks as they develop dur
ing the next two weeks, not forgetting
to keep their records full and COM
l,lete.
I am sorry to report that the alfalfa
experiment is now in hard lines. There
may be people "meaner than pusiey,
but there could be no worse weed at
this stage of growth than purslane,
and this legacy from last years idle
ness seems likely to help the alfalfa
about as Bryan's support VIII bene-
At Parker. Other weeds are checked
sufficiently by clipping with mower,
but nothing will discourage purslane,
short of laying the entire plant on It's
hack on dry plank several feet clear
from the ground. 1t Is excellent pig
feed. too. and If the field We're enclosed
might turn them in experimentally
though fearing they would damage the
alfalfa more than the purslane- 1t IS
d fine stand, four to SIX inches hl5h.
twenty FIVE days from sowing. and
should be clipped this week, before the
purslane spreads out Fat and forms
4 tight blanket. The roots are little
longer than the tops, and beginning
to throw out some branches, but alfal-
fa. runs more to single. strong tap
root. than other clovers. No bacteria
nodues are showing yet and ! do not
expect them till the roots reach con-
siderable size.
WILL II. WILSON.