Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-19
iowa CORN SP0LED2
cRoWNIE MAKES STRONG AS
sERT1oN AS TO CROP.
POOR SEED GIVEN AS CAUSE
Gc.ernment Crop Reporter Declares
That Loss to State Is Approx
mately 1oo,ooo,ooo Bushels
Has Made Close Study.

Russell Woodard Staff Correspondent
Des Moines, Ia. Sept. 11.-Despite
Crop Director Sage's great hopes for
record breaking corn crop, John
Crownie, government crop reporter for
the state of Iowa, in recent statement
has declared that Iowa is losing 100000
600 bushels this year because of the poor
seed used by farmers. Mr.. Crownie's
position in agricultural circles gives
force to his remarks. He said in part:
1.-The corn fields of Iowa at the present
time offer an object lesson in regard to
the value of good seed corn that would
be of inestimable value to the farmers
of the state, if given the attention that
this all important subject demands.
While there is large acreage of corn
in Iowa that gives promise of an excel
lent yield, there is also very large
acreage that will be very disappointing
when husking is completed. These corn
fields appear promising from the high
way, or railway car, but when exam
ined by close observer who under
stands corn culture at its best, it is seen
that the stand is very uneven. there be-
ing large number of hills without q
stalk. still more with only one stalk,
a great many with two stalks, a limited
number with the ideal condition of
three stalks in each hill, good many
hills with four or even more stalks,
which is even worse than only one or two
stalks in a hill for, instead of good-sized
ears, these thick-set hills will produce
only nubbins. Such conditions are
proof positive of poor seed, and the
farmer evidently used good-sized seed
plate to make amends for his negligence
in not securing his seed corn at the right
time in the fall of 1904 and caring for
1t in proper manner until the planting
season in the spring of 1905. While with
, crop of corn will be assured in Iowa,
still the yield cannot possibly be equal
to what it would have been with good
seed corn last spring. With . ed selected
in the fall of 1904 instead of the spring
of 1906 there would have been an in
crease in the yield of corn from five to
| eight bushels on the entire corn acreage
verified by examining the corn fields in
| any locality in the state, those farmers
who saved their seed corn having fine
stand. while their shiftless neighbor
who trusts to selecting his seed corn
from the crib in the spring will not have
to exceed one-half to two thirds of full
crop. A short time ago called the at
i Nf a IN do Nd F,,1
farmer to the difference in one of his
corn fields, for while it looked alike
| from the highway. a close examination
showed a fine uniform stand on one part
of the field, running largely three stalks
to hill, while the other part of the fielc
showed many blanks, and still larger
number with but single stalk in thu
hill. Upon asking for the reason of this
difference In the field, was told that {
larger acreage Of corn had been planted
than had been anticipated, that the seet
corn selected in the fall had given out
that none of his neighbors had sur
plus of good seed corn. and that he hat
selected and tested corn from the Grill
which appeared quite satisfactory hay
Ing terminated when tested "a per cent
But as he pointed to the empty hills TIL
language used was not such as woul,
care to repeat, and am sure that Their
is one farmer in Iowa who will profit b,
his experience and secure an ample sup
ply of seed corn in the autumn, whel
every well-matured ear could be depend
ed upon not only to terminate 100 pc
cent. but also to produce strong, Wig
orous and healthy stalks. In roun,
numbers the cornfields of Iowa will az
gregate 100000 acres the present sea
son and, no matter what the yield ma,
be, no person will informed on this sub
ject will deny that with good seed tn
average yield would have been in
creased from five to eight bushels pc
acre."