The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-01-14
FREDERICKSBURG, VA TUESDAY, JANUARY "a laos
ESSAY ON CORN

The following interesting article on
the subj CT Of corn was read recently be-
fore the ChOptsuk Farmers Club 10 King
George. OF which the author, Mr.. James
h. Kendall, l. q member
The most important crop we grow. In
iact when we view corn with all its In
trinsic values, We are ready To admit
that We could lose all other grain crops
rather than corn.
Corn is King" says Secretary Wilson
In his annual report, and he puts the
value OF the corn crop OF the United
states for 1907 at 81 $50. .OOO 600. ex-
ceeding al other varieties of grain, even
surprising in value the slaughtere1 aui-
mails Of the United Stats
have seen more crop years than most
living men. and have seen oil other grain
crops iail. but have never seen an entire
failure oil the corn crop; hot or cold. wet
or dry, corn alwaye responds when
called for at Autumn.
Drought long cOntinued when corn is
tasseling cuts the crop short, but never
saw an entire failure OF the corn crop.
Did you ever think, gentlemen, what q
calamity such q failure would bring on
US all? Not only an nempty crib but also
an empty meat house with most OF ua,
poor stock; the luxury of butter, eggs,
now enjoy would be scsnt indeed II the
corn crop failed. Our lifelong familiarity
with corn hinders us from properly ap-
preciating ite value aud rare beauty.
Corn is q perfect plant from start to
finish. Nothing 10 more perfect than an
ear OF corn. and the entire corn plant.
Our time at the club 10 too short TO
tell Of all its uses and beauties, in fact
there Is no waste in growing a corn crop;
the by-prOducts are nearly as valuable
as the grain; everything about grain
and plant shows great design and perfect
workmanship.
The stalk that supports the ear IL sup
piled with "A soft, porous pith that nour-
ishes the entire plant; this pith is sur
rounded and protected by thin case
composed principally Of siicia, which
gives II strength TO support the ear; the
leai or blade. is a spout TO convey the
dew and rain TO a sheath surrounding
the stalk, and after lubricsting the stalk
the surplus water passes TO ID root TO
irrigate and iertiliSs the plant.
The anthers, or flowers, that produce
the pollen Is on topo OF the stalk, the pistil.
or silk, a small, hollow tube, extending
lfom the base Of the grain and upward
along the ear protruding from the point
of the shuck with open mouth u receive
the pollen as IL falls from the flower, or
| tAssel, every perfect grain must be ferti-
lized, and as these tubes, or silks must
be iertiliEed when they tirst appear, and
6re fresh and green, it is well for the
farmer to re-plant all missing hills, to
furnish late pollen To iertilize very maby
ears that send out the silk alter the
pollen has dried up and died on the stalk
above the ear.
II the corn is not iecundated by its own
pollen il will be by any pollen waited By
the winds from any adjacent field OF
corn. lt Is the easiest gram known to
cross iertilize.
Ny sugar corn IS grown In the garden
and select my field corn seed and plant
nothing but pure.eeed, yet with ali my
care an ear was found ia the field hun
dreds OF ards from the garden with
very many perfect grains OF sugar corn
on IL, which proves that the cross took
place In the embryo state.
Toe varieties of corn are made more
numerous than the climatic variations
of the United States; some varieties are
suited TO all temperatures, elevations or
valleys, corn stalks Is feet high, grown
on the loan soils of the fertile South, re-
quiring much room to grow in and 40
days to mature, while on the highlands
OF the central States and far North small,
early varieties OF corn grow and -four
ish that can be planted close, having a
dwaited stalk OF 8 to feet high and
ripening In 90 days. These small early
varieties by being close and leaving 8 to
stalks to the hill In those higL latti-
tudes on rich soil will produce as many
or more bushels per acre as large vari-
eties In a warmer climate; but ours is a
perfect corn climate, with sufficient
warmth to mature the largest and latest
varieties OF corn, therefore, we as farm
ers should grow the largest varieties
that yield the most ehelled corn.
The correct way to ascertain this,
think, is to shell and weigh the corn
from an average ear of each variety and
show the cob and sample ear. This
plan have adopted with few OF the
varieties growing in my vicinity. This
hope will start an emulation IN variety
exhibits until the very best variety for
our use or general purpose corn Is dis
seminated among us.
| wish to suggest, and hope you gen.
tlemen will concur, let US select enough
Of the largest and beat ears OF our corn
to shell out an even hall bushel. struck
measure. count the cobs and report to
next club meeting the least number of
ears required to al the measure.
found that so ears of my corn and
81 OF the longest ears OF Hickory King
hlled hall busbel measure, q gain of one
bushel In every five for the large corn.