Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-01
SWEET CORN NOVELTY
How Iowa Man Found Worlds
Most Delicious Ear.
THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT

United States Government Has Been
Experimenting For Years to Pro-
duce This Variety-It Ripens In
Fifty-seven Days and Is Ivory
White In Color.
What might be called 'The Romance
of an Ear of Corn is the story of the
discovery of the earliest and most de-
licious sweet corn in the whole world,
says special dispatch from Wash
ingtOn to the Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune. Iowa has the credit of this
notable discovery, and S. \. Howe of
Fort Dodge is the Christopher Column
bus of this new world in agriculture.
\ part of the original ear from which
the white Mexican corn has been pro-
pagated is still in the possession of Il
Sioux City nursery, which has brought
the marvellous corn to the point of per-
lection which has won the unreStrain-
ed approval of the United States gov
eminent. But Il few months ago Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wilson sent Pro-
lessor STracy, one of the experts of the
department. to Sioux City to investi-
gate the claims made for the white
Mexican. He was convinced.
1.-THE government has been expert
menting for Il score of years." said he,
''to produce corn of this character
early, yet really sweet. l have no
hesitation in prOnouncing this the
greatest discovery made in sweet corn
culture in twenty-five years"
Professor Tracy backed his enthusi-
astic approval Of the corn by ordering
400 bushels for use at government eX-
pertinent stations and for distribution.
\ seed expert of Il big firm has tray
cled to Sioux City to examine into the
virtues of the white Mexican. One
thousand bushels was the order he left.
Tor many years the black Mexican
has been known as the earliest sweet
corn Toothsome enough to the blind,
the black kernels were distaSteful to
the seeing 1t was race problem in
agriculture which has had as many
suggested solutions as the veXed puZ-
zle i'll the higher animal world. The
black Mexican would he ready for the
table in eighty days from planting, full
" ten days ahead of the evergreen,
which is white.
Not long ago s. a. Howe of Fort
Dodge was passing through his field
of black Mexican corn and noticed an
ear which seemed unusual, probably
blighted. 1t was on the same stalk
that held a normal ear. Mr.. Howe was
about to pluck the abnormal ear when
his eye was caught by the white kerr
nels peeping out. What if the ear were
healthy and white at the same timer
Such luck was hardly TO be expected,
but il was worth hoping for.
SO the white ear was watched solicit
tOusly. When ripe 1t realized Mr..
IIowe's fondest dreams. 1t was white
and perfect. \ Sioux City seed special
list was called into consultation upon
this gratifying discovery. He was
elated and begged half the ear.
One-half of his share was sent to II.
Il. Smith, a reliable and prosperous
farmer near Odebolt, Ia, with in
structions to plant the seed and to
cultivate it carefully.
Wonder of wonders, In fifty-seven
days from planting this new sweet
corn was ready for the table. Farmer
Smith had a mess of ii, and William
Sampson, a merchant at Odebolt, dined
on it also. Both pronounced it incOm-
parably better than any they had be-
fore eaten.
From that sport in the field of Mr..
Howe has now come forth an acknowl-
edged type which is causing no less
than a furore in seed producing quar-
tiers.
The white Mexican is small of stalk
about three and one-half feet-and
small of ear. The latter makes it
nicer to serve on the table. Its color
is ivory white, and, best of all, it is
delightfully."- sweet. 1t is hardy and
prolific, from two to four full ears
on a single stalk