Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-07
SEED CORN GOSPEL
BURLINGTON SPECIAL. TRAIN DO.
8 ING GREAT WORK FOR IOWA
Is, FARMERS.
Better Feeding Corn is the Lesson I'm.
). parted by Prof. P. G. Holden and
His Assistants-The Best Way to
Secure 1t.

Bloomfield, March 4. Especially
II there has been any doubt in the
minds of the people of Iowa as to the
wisdom of the plan of sending a seed
corn train over the lines of the Bur-
hngton route, that doubt has been dis
PEELED during the past few days. If
there ever was a feeling among the
farmers that their knowledge of their
occupation and its demands Is suffi-
cient and that to listen to scientific leo
lures on the subject which is their
life study is a loss of time. that feel
! Ing has disappeared under the mini
strations of P. G. Holden, professor of
agronomy at the Ames Agricultural
college.
Since the Burlington seed corn spe-
cial began it's weeks trip over the
Iowa lines last Tuesday morning, thou
sands of farmers have listened to the
lectures delivered by Mr.. Holden and
his assistants, thousands have ex-
pressed their intention Of following
the advice contained in the addresses
and even now, on hundreds of farms
along the line Of the Burlington in
Iowa, test boxes are being watched
with careful solicitation. The farm
ers have learned that they can in
crease their corn yield to an amazing
extent by following the advice of the
professors.
Is Simple Lesson.
The gospel of seed corn is a sim
pie lesson. 1t has few of the frills
that would make it unpopular we're
they forced upon the farmer. AS Pro-
lessor A. D. Shamel Of Washington
said yesterday in one of his addresses
the only lesson he and his associates
are trying to leave with those who
hear their lectures is the lesson Of
good feeding corn. The appearance,
the symmetry of the rows of kernels,
the distance between the rows and the
number of grains on cob, are second
airy considerations to the great point
OF securing corn that will make good
feed for stock. In other words, if the
/ seed corn is carefully prepared, tested
and tended, the result will be yield
OF grain, that will bring a high market
price, regardless of it's points as
viewed by critical Judge.
Need of Lectures,
AS was explained yesterday by sew
eral of the speakers, the need for more
attention to the preparation of seed
/ corn IN Iowa is very great. Tests and
experiments made by the officials of
fhe Agricultural college at Ames, show
that the seed corn used in Iowa last
year was of SO inferior a grade that
the farmers of the state obtained. on
an average. stand of but two.thirds.
IN other words, had good, vigorous
seed corn been used the same crop
that was last year raised on 5000 900
acres OF Iowa farm land could have
been grown on 100000 acres. Thir-
teen hundred specimens of corn were
tested at Ames and the average show
ing made by all Of them was as fol-
lows:
63 per cent sprouted strongly and Wig
orously.
IL per cent sprouted, but slowly and
weakly, producing "runt"
stalk.
IL per cent rotted in the testing box,
and failed entirely to sprout.
The lack Of stand, which was de-
plorable in Iowa last year, was due to
the fact that the seed corn used by the
farmers of the state was inferior. 1t
is with the view of inducing the Iowa
farmers this year to give more care
full attention to their seed corn that
Professor Holden and his assistants
are making the trips through the
state and delivering their lectures. 1t
Is with the hope of increasing the pro-
ductive value of the farms along the
line that the Burlington route officials
are going to the enormous expense of
providing trains for the lecturers.
sending. their officials along and bring
ing the farmers from points in the vi
cinity Of the lecture stops to hear the
addresses.
A Practical Talk.
1t is the ,practicability of the plan