The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-11-24
POINTS ON CORN CULTURE
PROF. SHOESNITTHS LECTURE AT
EDISON FRIDAY.
If Corn Culture in Sherman County Is
Made a Science, Corn May Be
King.

Z. W. Albright, who is now in bust
ness in Brewster, but who last winter
took a short course in the Kansas
state agricultural college at Manhat-
tan acted as the representative Of this
paper at the Brewster lecture Of Prof
ShOesmith, who gave valuable points
on thebreeding and growing Of corn
Mr. Albright's report is as follows:
The lecture Of Prof. V. NJ. Shoe
smith was so simple and impressive
both in language and object lessons,
that the wayfaring man though a fool,
may not err therein.
His lecture was confined to the
judging a breeding Of corn more than
the conservation Of moisture, in the
soil, as in it lies one Of thegreat sec
rets OF contrasting. Beginning with
the ear he showed with great force
why the ear should be cylindrical, not
too tapering and last but not least
kernels not having the shOepeg form.
The ear should be cylindrical and
not tapering so as to produce a uni
form sized kernel, so necessary in pro-
curing a good uniform drop from the
planter plate A uniform type should
be secured just the same in corn as
in cattle, as the quality and color is
handed down to pOsterity in corn just
the same as in cattle No one would
think Of securing breeding stock from
a herd that was not uniform in char
acter and quality.
Then taking up the form Of the
kernel, he exhibited q chart showing
| the constituents OF the different parts
Of the kernel from the poorest part
20 the chit or germ, which contains
7-25 per cent protein and 54-75 per
| cent OIL and from this premise
| showed plainly why the chit should
| not be cramped or shortened as in
| the shOepeg or shallow kernel type
a very interesting part OF the lee
/ ture was the exhibition OF three
| samples OF corn stalks. No. 1 showed
/ a very vigorous growth and producing
/ two large solid ears OF corn
Sample No. 2 showed a tall, slim
! stalk Of sickly appearance, with scant
I narrow foliage and producing a small,
/ sharp-pOinted hUsk, containing a
small nubbin-
Sample No. 3 showed a quite large
/ vigorous stalk, but absolutely barren.
From the premises shown in these
object lessons, the conclusion was
drawn that il was necessary to detas-
sci or mother words castrate the bar
rem and tuberculOsiaI specimen that
/ the progeny Of the vigorous type be
not contaminated by them. Just as you
| protect your herd from the cOntami-
nations by the sickly and barren spec
linens Of your herd After this has
| been done he shows the method OF
prOpOgating like this: Select your
seed at husking time. and put in a dry
place Then at your leisure prepare
for testing in the following manner:
Take a piece Of muslin, mark il on
in checks and number the checks
then number a series OF ears to cor
respond with the numbers in the
checks. Then place the muslin in
some receptacle upon mOstened earth
or newspapers, take a sample OF corr
from each ear and place il on the cor
responding number on the muslin and
so on til all the checks in the muslin
are full Then cover again with &
cloth or paper upon which is damp
ened soil After cremation is com
pleted, inspect and reject such ears a.
show low terminating powers
After the proper tiIlage for the con
servatiOn OF the winter moisture, the
best possible conditions exist for the
starting out OF q profitable crop Of
corn.