The Laclede blade., 1905-02-18

IN Cllllng, eGc.
1t is perfectly possible for farmers
in their community to breed corn Of
high yields and good quality. Col
Waters, the veteran corn-grower Of
the state, suggests a plan which should
be followed by every enterprising
corn-growing community in the state.
Select some farm which represents the
soil conditions of the organization,
giving special care to selecting corn
of high yields. This may be done by
planting the best ear in small plot,
using one ear for each row. A care
full observation of the yield and char
acter of each row will show which ear
possessed the quality of giving high
yields. A difference has been observ-
ed between different ears of as much
as 75 bushels per acre. By selecting
from these high yielding rows, a
strain of the very high yielding corn
can be produced.
Individual farmers may do much in
improving their corn yields by select
ing the very best ears from their cribs
this spring and planting them in
plot to themselves, which should be
kept as "seed corn plot" Corn on
ly from this plot will tend to produce
ears like those planted, and since all
good ears are planted together, there
will be no chance for crossing this
corn with poor corn.
IMPROVING MISSOURI SOIL.
No soil is rich enough to grow one
crop continuously on the same land.
In order to make the most profitable
use of the elements of land food ex-
listing in any soil, it is necessary to
practice growing different crops in ro-
tation. 1t is possible by growing
corn and other grain crops in rotation
with clover or cowpeas, to maintain
continuously for an indefinite period
the productiyeness of the best Missou-
ri soils.
The three elements of vitality that
are most often lacking in soils or that
are exhausted by continuous cropping
are nitrogen, potash and phosphoric
acid. The rotation mentioned above
will provide the necessary nitrogen
by reason of the ability of the clover
and cowpea to secure this valuable
element from the atmosphere. This
element is not possessed by the gram
crops, and consequently continuous
growing of these corps will quickly
extract the valuable nitrogen from
any soil.
The grain crops are also surface
feeders. The roots do not penetrate
deeply into the soil, and consequently
here are vast stores of this valuable
plant food elements below the reach
If the roots of wheat, corn, oats aud
,ther grains. Glover and cowpea, on
he other hand, are deep-growing
plants, and stores of plant food below
he reach of grain crops are brought
o the surface and utilized by these
'lants. The only exception to the
'road statement above that judicious
citation will maintain soils fertility :
5 in respect to the two mineral ele-
nents, potash and phosphoric acid,
nd in some cases it has been found
roitable to apply these mineral ma !,
erials In the form of commercial fer
lizers.
Where clover can be grown sue
it is unquestionably the best v
Ill improver for Missouri conditions. o
lover, however, often fails, and it be- u
ins to supply in its place more GER c
lin crop. When this happens, COW e
ca may be grown successfully in any d
'unty in the state. Cowpeas are an 1
,nual crop that practically never g
il in Missouri. One of the best va. a