Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-04
THOUSANDS OF IOWA FARMERS
ALONG THE BURLINGTON
HEAR LECTURES.
T URN HUNDREDS AWAY
Gospel of Pure Seed Corn u Preached
in Special Train Supplied by the
Burlington Line in Many Towns
Distinguished Party Aboard.

Humeston. March 3.-tspeciaD
Four thousand, one hundred four
teen Iowa farmers heard the gospel of
seed corn and expert agronomy yes
terday from professors who have
made a long study of the Science of
farming These ALA men were
guests Of the Burlington route on their
seed corn and soil special and at audi
toriums along the limo. They were
addressed by Prof. P G. Holden of
the Ames Agricultural College and by
other men who have devoted the
greater part of their lives to the study
Of farming.
During the three days the train has
been In the western part Of the state
1851 people listened to the gospel of
pure seed corn and other thousands
were turned away because Of made
quate Accommodations. The success
Of the plan, which is conducted by the
Burlington's Industrial department, is
this year far in excess of last year,
and the results, it is fully expected,
will be shown by larger and more val
liable crops in Iowa this year.
The Gospel Train.
The Burlington's seed corn special
is made up of five cars. In a private
car in front the railroad officials and
several Of the speakers are accommo-
dated Behind this are three coaches
in which the lectures are delivered
at the daylight stops. At the rear OF
the train is the car occupied by Prof
Holden and his party.
In the larger towns and cities the
lectures are delivered in auditoriums
and at the smaller places the coaches
are used for that apalrpos * Never yet
have the accommodation for the audi
ences been too large, the reverse being
true in nearly every case.
In the Party.
The party today consists of the fol.
lowing men:
w. H. Manss, member Of the Bur
lington's industrial commission, in
charge Of the train.
H. S. Jones, division passenger
agent.
Joe S. Trigg, Of Des Moines, editor
of the Iowa State Register.
E. E. Farille, of Sioux City, editor of
the Farm Journal.
Prof. P. G. Holden, professor of
agronomy at Iowa state Agricultural
college.
Prof. A. D. Slammed, Of the United
States department of agriculture.
Hon. G. w. Waters, of Canton, Mo-,
member of the state board Of agricul.
ture.
M. L. Wilson and M. L. Mosier, stud
ents at Ames and assistants to Prof.
Holden.
Prof. w. ]. Rutherford, Of the de,
partment Of animal husbandry at
Ames.
Last Nights Meeting.
The meeting held at Creston last
evening was the largest thus far on
| the trip. Fully 1000 men crowded in.
and almost an equal number were un.
able to get within hearing of the speak.
ers. The Burlington had brought the
| farmers from the east of Creston to
attend this meeting and five coaches
were required to return them to their
| homes.
The meeting was opened by W. H
| Manss, who stated the objects of the
company-the education of the farm
ers along the line of the system to a
realization of the possibilities of their
lands. their grains. He compared the
corn yield of Iowa, 32A bushels to the
acre with that of Vermont, which is
about 40 bushels to the acre. He com
pared the value of the land showing
that Iowa's productive possibilities
greatly exceed those of Vermont He
expressed desire-the desire of the
Burlington road-that Iowa's corn yield
may be increased. through application
of the principles preached by Prof
Holden and his assistants, by forty
| fifty and possibly 100 per cent. He
1 then introduced Prof Shamel, who
/ delivered most interesting lecture
holding the attention of his hearers
throughout the evening.
Speaking of the tests Of corn made
at Ames last year Prof. Shamel said
that of 1,300 sample tested last year
SO per cent sprouted vigorously, 19 pei
cent grew slowly and spindling and Is
per cent rotted in the test box and
proved entirely worthless. He then
launched into description of the man
ner Of testing seed corn. He said:
| When harvesting seed corn close
attention should be paid to the selec
ton OF the seed ears. In the field
however, the farmer cannot make as
careful a selection as he can after the
ears have dried out thoroughly. The
! selecting and grading of the seed in
the spring should not be left until the
| rl1Sh Of snrjnc hepjns IF loft I'm III