Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-04
SEED CORN FAMINE.
Farmers of Iowa Facing Worst
Problem Ever Confronted
BY Them
SEED HOUSE NOT SUPPLIED
Limited Area Of the State Grow Corn
Suitable for Seed and Only Enough
for Same Territory Was Saved =
South eastern Iowa in Best condi-
ton.
pec;al to Times Republican.

Special to Republican.
Creston. Feb. 4--According 10 the
grain men and leading farmers the
state at large is facing one OF the
worst seed corn falnines 1t has ever
experienced 1t is estimated that over
a great part of Iowa not one-te tenth
of the required amount is III sight at
this time and where the other nihe-
tenths is to come from is q problem
that Is worrying the farmers OF nearly
all sections.
It is stated that even the seed houses
are not as we'll supplied with reliable
corn as they have been in some years,
and while it is not doubted that the
usual acreage viii be- put In. it Is not
denied that the problem before the
corn raisers is a serious one.
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 their seed
early and take proper care OF 1t, are
entirely out. Positively 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
h,r iS. N from
this source.
In a few of the southwestern coun-
ties the corn according to authorities,
matured almost up To the standard.
but this condition exists only over u
comparatively small area when the
state at large IS considered. Here the
farmers are Well supplied with seed
for their own use, but they merely
saved enough to supply their own ter
ritories and this does not help the
farmers in other sections.
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 of the
state, 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 raised in the
district where it is to be planted. For
the best results, it is maintained, corn
should be thoroughly acclimated; the
conditions of soil and climate, it is
claimed, have great effect on the
growth and maturing qualities. the
corn that has been raised for several
successive seasons in a certain local
ity, does much better, especially under
adverse conditions, than that which is
imported.
Even now the scramble for seed has
commenced, and general realization
of the seriousness of the situation Is
beginning TO be apparent in all sec
tions. The, crbbed corn, that might
have afforded some little relief under
normal conditions, is not to be con-
sidered at all this season. Positively
none of it in the soft-corn districts
could be relied upon for even partial
stand.