Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-22
More corn-Better Quality.

An address delivered at the
Delaware County Farmers Institute
by W. 81. Warburton, President Of
the Iowa Corn Growers Association:
Agriculture has, within a few
years, been lifted up from a happy
go-lucky business into profession.
A profession that calls for trained
mind and skilled brain. The far
mers of the state are beginning to
realize the importance of making
farming a profession. The modern
and up-to-date farmer sees that it is
to his benefit to make every inch
count. Prof. Curtiss of Ames saw
this a few years ago and installed
the first short course for the benefit
of farmers and farmers sons. This
action alone has made the name Of
Curtiss known the world over. One
Of the outgrowths of the short course
is the Iowa Corn Growers Associa-
ton. The objects Of this Associa-
tion are:
FIRST. 10 advance the interests
of corn growers in securing better
methods of selecting and caring for
seed corn.
Second. The improvement and
aeyelopment Of varieties of corn.
Third. To hold conventions for
instruction in corn Judging.
Fourth. To issue certificates of
qualification to expert judges of
corn,
Fifth. To aid in the organiza-
ton Of local clubs for the study and
improvement of corn.
Farm land is worth eight times
as much as it was 40 years ago and
does not produce as much. With
land at present prices we cannot
farm it as we did 25 or 30 years
ago. 1t must be farmed more
scientifically. Farming is no longer
the occupation of the mere toiler.
1t demands the trained brain as
well as the strong body. Know
ledge as well as physical endurance
and in it should be satisfaction to
the most ardent ambition for it calls
for an all around cultivation. The
farmer Of today. and this will be in
creasingly true as the years roll on,
is no mere machine but a strong
vigorously thinking man. If by
any means we can interest the far
mer of Iowa ard especially the
young men to carefully study and
select seed corn. 1t will enable
them to follow the plow and cult
vator with pleasure and watch the
results in way that will remove
the drudgery feeling and make
them better farmers for thirty years
to come. All work loses it's druid
gerry when there is an interest in it.
One thing we need is hundreds and
hundreds Of young mems clubs to
study farm subjects.
Success in agriculture consists in
securing the largest and best pro-
duction at the smallest expenditure
of force, time and money. The
corn of Iowa lies at the founda-
ton of our success. We have about
reached the extent of our corn area
and with the increase Of consump-
ton Of the nearly one hundred and
fifty products of corn now already
on the market, it becomes us to in
crease our yield, not our acres. G.
7. Hartley, corn expert of the United
States department of Agriculture,
has visited every state in the Union
and made careful study Of the
methods of thousands of corn
growers, both good and bad. He
concludes that it is possible within
a few years to double the average
production Of corn per acre in the
United States and to accomplish
this without any increase in work
or expense. The lines of improve
ment recommended to accomplish
this are:
1 First. Improvement in the
quality Of seed planted.
Second. Improvement in the
condition of soil.
Third. Improvement in methods
Of cultivation.
We farmers Of the great state Of
Iowa only producing an average oi
, about 30 bushels which is dis.
r grace only small per cent of which
will grade No. 3, had better wake
up and study the three improve
ments recommended.
If by any means we can increase
} our average yield one bushel il
means over nine million bushels tt
the state-fve bushels means five
J times as much. If one acre vii
' produce 60 bushels why are we
f satisfied with Is. When you raise
30 bushels YOU have been simpl,