Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-18
BENEFIT OF CROP SPECIALS
Effects Too Great to Be Appreciated Now,
Says A. barlow.
PEOPLE ARE ATTIRE WITH ENTHUSIASM
A Late as Midnight Crowds Greeted
Union Pacific Train 20 Hear
Crop Gospel from scien-
tihc Missionaries.

~To give you some idea OF the interest
manifest in these seed corn specials, and
particularly the one the Union Pacific has
tust brought back, let me say that at one
place we stopped at II 80 at night we
found at least 200 people assembled, eager
TO hear the gospel of crop cultivation"
said Alfred Darlow of the Union Pacific,
who was in charge of the excursion that
lasted three days, ending Friday The
good these specials are doing cannot easily
be estimated. People are manifesting the
most vital interest in them. We found, on
numerous occasions, evidences Of the prac-
tice of our preaching-farmers have put
into effect doctrines they heard last year
and this years preaching will be as readily
followed 1t is a great thing for Nebraska
and for those people dependent upon the
products of Nebraska, for 1t will give to
the world the best that land Is able to
produce.
Generally we found that while people
were interested in hearing of how to cuti-
vate this crop and that, they wanted more
especially to know about corn. Corn is
king: that certainly was made plain to us.
Now, when you consider the unfavorable
weather-blizzards part of the time-we en-
countered on this last tour and the large
crowds which everywhere greeted us, you
can appreciate the force of my assertion
when l say the people of Nebraska are
afre with enthusiasm over these specials.
Not Enough Car Space.
I'VE had three lecture coaches and they
were not sufficient to accommodate the de-
mand. People rushed in at every point
and we soon discovered our mistake in
not having more car room. One OF these
coaches was for lectures on soil, another
on corn and the third for various other
subjects
THE lectures were comprehensive in
scope, treating on the selection of the seed,
planting and its treatment until the plant
was brought to the fruition of complete
development. Here are only few of the
hints that were dropped;
Pick seed in fall before freezing weather.
Hang seed corn in dry. well-ventllated
room, where II can be thoroughly dried
before freezing, or else kept warm enough
not to freeze. But it must be kept dry in
either case.
DO not send to distance for seed corn
unless you can get a well bred variety. Even
this may not yield well as your own
corn for two or three years. and, If the
type is not adapted to your region may
never do so.
How does the selection of seed increase
the yield? BY increasing the amount of
corn on the ear There are a number
of points to be considered in selecting
ears of superior excellence. A cylindrical
ear carries more corn and more uniform
kernels than tapering ear. A taper
ing ear may be due to kernels growing
smaller toward the tip, or the dropping
out OF rows which makes irregular sized
kernels and lessons the amount of corn.
1t may thus be seen that a tapering
ear, by dropping out rows or shortening
kernels, may decrease the corn on the
ear by five to ten per cent. A rough ear
with deep kernel produces the greatest
yield of corn. 1t is obvious that a deep
kernel Is desirable as it produces from
~ to 30 per cent more corn on the same
cob, than Will a shallow kernel A rough
kernel is desirable because 1t is a deep
kernel. On the other hand, smooth kernel
Is usually shallow.