The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-18

THE CORN CONTEXT.
It Is encouraging to note the wide
interest that is being exhibited in prac-
ticaliy every section Of Alabama over
the corn contest. The inception Of this
contest was a wise move. and we are
persuaded that It win be Of immense
and permanent benefit both to the
farmers and the consumers. II Is not
the value OF the prize itself that makes
the contest so important. though that
is well worth striving for. The money
will be a nice reward for any extra
time, labor and expense incurred in
striving to win the prize. to say moth
ing of the satisfaction a farmer must
feel when he finds that he has exceeded
all competitors in corn growing.
But the money value Of the prize.
and the satisfaction OF winning 1t will
be as nothing compared to the lesson
that will be learned. We are told that
nothing succeeds like success" and we
all know that there is no school like
experience. The farmer who grows an
unusually large crop Of corn on one
acre will have succeeded In demonstrate
ing what can be done. and the expe-
rience thus gained will be as lamp to
guide him in. the future.
There is an old adage TO the effect
that what man has done. man can do
again." and 1t will certainly hold good
in this case. Give like conditions and
opportunities one farmer can grow as
much corn per acre as another II the
way is pointed out, and that In the
primary object of this contest. It Is
not supposible that a farmer can grow
as much corn per acre on a large field
as he can on one acre. for he cannot
bestow a proportionate amount of time,
labor and fertilization on his entire
crop that he does on the prize acre.
That is understood, and nobody expects
the example and results OF the prize
acre to be extended to the entire farm.
for that would be impossible. There is
a limit in farming as in everything
else that man does.
It Is reasonable 70 expect. however.
that one result of this contest win be
to prove to the farmers Of Alabama
shat they can grow larger crops OF corn
on their land than they have done in
the past. They can devote smaller
areas Of land to corn and grow larger
crops and by that means can either let
part Of the land rest each season or de-
vote IT to other crops which will be
both useful and profitable.
No one. we think. will dispute the
elf-evident fact that the price of corn
Is too high throughout his secion. AL
ALBANIA Is a splendid agricultural State.
but the corn crop falls to show It. What
Is known as the black belt" of AL
ALBANIA is a corn-growing region, yet
few of the planters raise enough for
their own use. In the wiregrass re-
gion. the showing is better, but per-
hapss that is to some extent due to the
fact that it is not such a good cotton
section as the black belt is, but the fact
stands out that not only the consumers
but a large percentage OF the farmers
themselves are paying too much for the
corn they consume in their homes. '"
No, one. we think will regard such
conditions as complimentary to the
farmers themselves. They are the class
upon whom all others depend for food.
but when so many Of them depend on
the granaries. the cribs and the smoke
houses OF other sections of the country
for the food they eat. and for food for
their stock, can they claim or feel that
they are doing their whole duty to
themselves and to others?
These are some of the reasons why
we are hoping and expecting much
good from the corn contest. Teaching
by example is one way Of imparting
permanent education. The farmer who
wins frst prize will not only have set
a good example but will have learned
something Of value to himself which
may be of untold benefit to him here
after. We hope and believe that there
will. be no lessening of interest in the
contest, and that we shall have some-
thing good to record when the results
are known.