The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-04-20
CORN IN THE High ATTITUDES
Can BE MADE as SUCCESSFUL as
IN THE EAST
Plenty OF Instances Away Out West
Where II Yields IS 70 Is
Bushels Per Acre

Much has been said by our eastern
for q number OF years about
the impOssibility OF the arid sections
and particularly about corn growing
in the higher attitudes, says Prof h
". Campbell, in the Scientific Far
mer- They say il takes warm nights
who knows anything about the high
CT attitudes realizes the nights there
are always cooler than in other sec
tons nearer sea level We must then
admit, If warm nights are an absO-
lutte necessity for the growing OF corn,
that western Nebraska and Kansas l
and eastern Colorado viii not grow
corn
Theory is one thing. Practical de-
mOnstratiOns are quite another thing.
When you come to soil culture in the
growing Of crops, theory says corn
cannot be successfully grown above an
altitude OF 5000 feet Practical de-
mOnstratiOns say that 40 bushels Of
good corn per acre have been grown
at an altitude Of $500 feet and this
IN the face Of the fact that in that
great corn state, Illinois, where land
is worth from 500 to $3.50 per acre
and where the nights in midsummer
are frequently so hot that sleep is i'm
possible for either man or mosquitoes,
the highest average yield has never
been IN any one year more than Al
bushels.
While there are plenty OF instances
and in eastern Colorado where corn
has yielded from thirty-five to forty
five bushels per acre within the past
four years. yet the limit Of possible
lily in corn growing in these high
attitudes has by no means been reach
ed There are many branches OF
science not yet cOmprehended- In
short but very little thorough expert
mentatiOn has ever been done in con-
necuOn with this branch Of farming
in the west No one has yet attempt
ed to raise corn in high attitudes on
summer TILED lands and only the
more common methods Of fitting the
soil followed by a careful culture of
the crop have as yet been reSOrted to-
Only recently have we become con-
WINGED that seed corn direct from low
CT attitudes or from sections where
the climatic conditions are different
cannot produce as good crops as the
same seed after it has become accli-
mated.
Where Humidity Steps In.
Look at your agricultural papers
from Iowa and Illinois and note the
great stress put upon the breeding
and selection Of seed corn and the
wonderful results mentioned that
have already been obtained thereby.
Have these scientific principles
been taken advantage Of with the
same degree Of care as that given to
cultivation By no means Have our
eastern friends recognized the fact that
the atmosphere OF these higher and
more arid sections is very much more
dry than in Iowa and Illinois and that
because OF this low humidity the ev-
apOratiOn from the leaf Of the plant
IS as great, while the temperature is
several degrees lower than in the
above states2 In other words, do they
know that during midday, when the
temperature may be practically the
same in both sections, the evapora-
ton from the leaf Of the western plant
IEill be much the greater
When we realize that the greater
the evaporation from the leaf the
greater the growth OF the plant then
We must see that the disadvantages
OF the cooler night are very largely
overcome by decreased humidity OF
atmosphere Permit me to suggest in
this connection that there are already
strong indications that the quality Of
corn and other cereals grown in the
higher attitudes is as a rule very much
I better when fully matured than Of
those grown in lower attitudes.
most earnestly urge the friends
OF the Campbell system to begin this
year and give corn growing a thor
ough and lair test in the higher alti-
rudeS- First Of all carefully till
piece Of ground Of the size you desire
to plant to corn Be ready the next
season with as good seed as may be
obtained near by, using the earlier
dent varieties. Then proceed from
| the nrSt crop and select the earliest
and best ears for seed for the next
crop and so continue until you have
fully proven the merits Of summer
/ culture, seed selection, acclimation
and our drier climate
While you cannot plant your corn
as early in the higher attitudes of
| Colorado, Kansas or Nebraska as in
| the central states, you can usually be-
gin the cultivation earlier and there
| BY set your soil in better condition.
/ II you have been careful to carry
some mOiture through the winter in
/ the soil this early cultivation and care
| ful fitting will make certain a quick
I er termination and a rapid early
growth One Of the early import
ant steps in corn growing is TO double
/ disk the surface as soon as conditions
/ viii permit Then follow with the at
| ter tllage that Will retain the mois-
/ ture and admit OF a free circulation
/ OF air through the top surface OF the
soil The latter assists very material
/ " in warming the soil and in fncreas-
/ ing the available plant elements.
While good results may be had by
| carefully fitting the soil this spring,
| far better results may be obtained BY
summer tilling one season prior to
cropping. In short, the latter plan,
with acciimated seeds and with the
soil properly cultivated, practically
| guarantees q good crop.