Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-22
Volume of Field Pens.

The field pea is becoming more prom
inent as an irrigated crop each year.
One reason for this Is its two-fold val
nc. As with alfalfa and other legumes,
the growing of field peas Is doubly
profitable first, the market value Of
the crop, and, second, its ability to fer
stllize the soil, says late Wyoming
bulletin. Besides giving large yield
Of forage and peas, this crop enriches
the soil through Its peculiar power Of
llarboring the bacteria that gather nj
trogen from the air. This nitrogen is
afterwards supplied to the soil in the
form of humus by the decaying roots
ard other parts of the plant left on the
ground. AS the field pea is an annual
plant. the nitrogen that is gathered in
its roots is sooner made available for
the use of other plants than that gath
cred by the perennial alfalfa. Nitrogen
Is the plant food element in which most
Western soils are lacking. Hence field
peas make very desirable crop for a
one-year rotation to Improve land for.
the grains and other non-leguminous
plants.
AS pasture for sheep and hogs, field
peas are being used more and more.
The fattening qualities are good. The
lambs fattened upon this crop Mt the
experiment station in 1905 brought the
top of the market" While field peas
are usually pastured, they are often
harvested for winter stock feed, or for
seed, either by mower or pea puller.
Selecting Seed for Improvement.
la In the improvement of corn by seed
selection an endeavor should be made
to start with the best variety, as ascer-
tanned by actual tests In the field
through sufficient number of years to
eliminate weather conditions. 1t must
be borne in mind that In all plant i'm
provement the same principles and
practices that have been employed with
such striking results III the improve
ment of the different breeds of animals
must be followed.
For corn there are three general
methods Of improvement: First, by
importation of seed from some repu-
table breeder or grower; second, by the
careful selection of seed corn from ones
own field or from neighbours; third,
by careful selection and growing of
seed corn in. field isolated something
like 400 or 500 yards from any other
corn field.
The characters that should be taken
into account in the improvement Of
corn by selection are:
1. Selection of ears from stalk bear
ing two or more ears, as it has been
demonstrated time and again that va.
riety that bears two medium-sized ears
per stalk will generally give higher
yields of shelled corn per acre than
variety bearing one large ear to the
stalk.
.. The stalk should be large at the
base and tapering gradually toward the
tassel, for two reasons: First, be-
cause 1t will be better enabled to with
stand drought, and, second, because it
will stand up better in windstorms.
3. The ears should by all means be OF
a cylindrical form, with both butts and
tips filled out, MS this is the form that
gives the highest percentage of yield
OF shelled corn per acre, other things
being equal.
4. The best shaped kernel is a medi-
um wedge, as this fills out the space on
the cob most completely. Also, the dis
lance between the rows of grains should
be small, while the number of rows
should be large and run parallel the
full length of the cob. with little or no
diminution In size, either at the butts
or tips. The percentage of grains
should be from so to 90, and should be
held rigidly by the cob. 1t should also
possess high 600 to 95 per cent? ger
minating power and great resisting
power to disease and insect ravages.
1t should be kept clearly in mind that,
with varieties Of corn, selection should
be made particularly with reference to
total yield of shelled corn and the char
acters which tend to give this and an
improved quality Of grains. IL 1t is
to be used in feeding growing animals,
or to be ground into meal for human
consumption, 1t should be high in flesh
and muscle-forming material (protein),
il for fattening stock, high in fat, and
IL to manufacture whisky, alcohol or
starch, high in starch, sugar, etc. Gear.
bohydrates).
The salvation army is established In