The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-04
SEED CORN is SCARCE.
Grain Men and Farmers over the State
are Predicting Famine.

Acco Ring to the grain men and
leading farmers. the state at large is
facing one of the worst seed corn
famines it has ever experienced. 1t
is estimated that over great part
of Iowa not one-tenth of the required
amount is in sight at this time and
where the other nine tenths is to
come from is problem that is worry
ing the farmers of nearly all sections.
Over great portion of Iowa the
corn was so far from dry when the
freezing weather struck it that the
cold utterly destroyed its vitality, and
those who failed to gather the seed
early and take porper care OF it. are
entirely out. Practically none of last
seasons crop was cribbed dry enough
to stand the winter.
1t is the estimate of experts that
not more than one farmer in ten
picked his corn early for seed and
these few gathered only enough for
their own use. thus there is none to
spare from this source.
Better in Southwest
In few of the southern counties
the corn is. according to authorities,
matured almost up to the standard.
but this condition exists only over
comparatively small area. when the
state at large is considered. Here
the farmers are we'll supplied with
seed for their own use, but they
merely saved enough to supply their
own territories and this does not help
the farmers in other sections.
Des Moines seed corn authorities
are unanimous in the opinion that
there will be a serious shortage of
seed corn in Iowa this year. On &C.
count of the cold summer the corn did
not mature properly and as a result
most of it is deficient in terminating
qualities.
81 don't think the farmers of the
state have awakened to the serious
ness of the situation said Charles
N. Page of the Iowa Seed company
last night. 'Last seasons crop did
not mature as it should and the germ
seems to be naturally deficient. 1t
is condition have not noticed for
fifteen or twenty years. Severe
weather before the crop is gathered
is usually responsible for shortage
Of seed corn. but that is not the case
this year, Even the corn that was
put away before the heavy frosts
failed to mature. However, l have
found that a few varieties of corn
did not seem to be affected by the
unusual conditions, but a majority Of
last seasons crop is undoubtedly Of
low vitality.
Low in vitality
There is no doubt that last season S
corn crop is low in vitality said
George w. Franklin of the Register
and Farmer. Corn requires GER
tain amount vf heat during the season
in order to mature properly. and last
season it was many degrees below
what it should have been. Farmers
will be more careful than ever this
year about testing their seed corn.
1t will require great deal of care to
secure seed which will grow.
'sSeed corn which was selected be-
fore the heavy frosts and put away
to dry will be all right. in my opin-
ion." said H. G. Wallace Of Wal
lace's Farmer. .'But the germating
aulities of the entire crop will be
found to be poor. and it will be even
more difficult to select seed from corn
that was injured by the frosts. A
large portion of last seasons crop
was soft when it was gathered and
the germs seem to be stunted."
According to the experts the gen
eral standard of seed corn among the
farmers has raised greatly during the
past few years. The corn that would
have been satisfactory to the planters
few years ago will not be acceptable
now. The gospel Of good seed has
been preached in all sections. and the
farmers this season will expect to
supply themselves with corn that
shows at once a good healthy power
of termination, or they will not be
satisfied to plant. This adds to the
seriousness of the problem. as the
best seed will be extremely hard to
get.
The best corn the seed houses can
put out. is not as satisfactory. the
farmers claim. as that which is rails.
ed in this district where it is to be
planted. For the best results. corn
should be thoroughly aec,imated. they
say. The conditions of soil and
climate have great effect. on the
growth and the maturing qualities
and the corn that has been raised fol
several successive seasons in local
%Lo oou,, %bo% rv;,,oc <bo toe% 80