The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-04
ABOUT CORN CONTEST.
F. A. .Kfene Jr., Secretary for Shaw
nee County, Explains the Details.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
There have been several slightly
misleading statements regarding the
boys corn growing contest for 1908
issued of late and the following from
the pen of the secretary of the county
committee and with the sanction of
the other officers of the organization
Is published to correct these mistakes,
and to assist the boys in taking up
the work of the present season.
Seed corn has been secured for dis
tribution among the boys and may be
secured from the various township
committeeman. There will be two
classes entered in the contest, class A
representing boys from IA to 20 years
of age and class B those from ten to
fourteen.
Boys in class A have the privilege
of planting ten ears furnished by the
committee, the ten ears which they
grew and exhibited in the last con-
test or ten ears received from any
other source whatsoever. 1t is pre-
ferable that they use either Boone
County White or Refds Yellow Dent
as these are the varieties which are
most generally used besides having a
long list of excellent qualities which
make them especially desirable.
Boys in class B will be furnished
one quart of shelled seed corn and
VIII in no way compete with boys in
class A. Prizes in class A will consist
of trips to Manhattan during the
state institute week with all expenses
paid while cash and merchandise
prizes will be distributed among the
boys in class B. ALI boys are re-
Quested to secure their seed as
quickly and send in their names either
to their township committeeman or to
F. A. Kiene, Jr., of Valencia, being
certain to write name and address
plainly and giving township and age.
This will be necessary to secure
pamphlets which will be sent out
from the Agricultural college and to
which will be two day affair and as
attractive, interesting and educative
as it is possible to make 1t.
Boys in class A are expected to
plant their ears in what is called the
single ear test. That is each ear is
each ear is kept separate until it is
determined which is the highest
yfelder. Then for the succeeding year
seed may be taken from this highest
yielding row. BY several years or a
continuous practice of this kind it is
strain of corn on every Shawnee
county farm.
If time will permit, every boy in
class A is urged to put into use the
following plan and thus secure seed
from the highest yielding ear which
will be absolutely cross bred:
Lay off two plats of ten rows each.
Rank the ten ears of corn according
to quality. Shell each ear and in ten
of the rows plant half of each ear
beginning in the middle of plat 1
in row /. On the right plant half of
each evenly numbered ear and on the
left half Of each odd numbered ear.
Then with the remaining corn plant
plat exactly as plat 1. When the
corn Is tasseling detassel the odd num-
bered rows in one plat and the even
in the other. 1t will thus be seen that
we have detasseled row from every
ear. When selecting the show and
seed corn disregard the tasseled rows
as these bear ears that are not wholly
cross bred. Space will not be given
here to discussi0n OF the principles
suggesting this practice for any boy
will be able to study it out From the
books and pamphlets which he may
secure. If he cannot follow either of
these two methods this should not be
cause for failure to secure seed
grown corn and enter a sample in the
contest next fall
Study the farm papers, the
pamphlets as they come to you. study
the field and do not be afraid to put
in a great deal of hard work. Show
your fathers that 1t is possible to
raise hundred bushels to the acre.
When In doubt about any question
consult some older corn raiser for
counsel and advice.
F. A. KIENE, JR.