The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-11
BY j. v. Knight.

AMES, fOWa, Aug. 11.-Th1s
place has shown farmers all ovel
the world how to make two blades
grow where one grew before. Sys
tenn was the scheme, and Iowa
State college the means of max
ing the farmer richer and more in.
telligent. This week, when all the
farms In Iowa hum with harvest
ers and threshers, the people fee
under obligations to the crop ex.
perts at Ames.
Although Iowa leads in corn
due to the great fertility of the
soil when proper crops are rotat-
ed, Prof. B. w. Crossley of the
Iowa State college here believes
that the school soon will be hav.
ing farmers raising from 35
to 60 bushels of wheat to the
acre. Prof. Crossley is preparing
a $4,000 exhibit for the Iowa State
fair, which shows how he expects
to give the farmers such remark
able wheat yields.
In 10-acre field near the big
college building there are a num-
Der of shocks, each protected
from birds and vermin by a paper
cover. Each shocks tells a new
story in the development of the
wheat crop of the country.
Prof. Crossley started with a
grain of wheat which was con-
sidered perfect by experts. This
grain was planted, and the re-
sulting grain carefully saved for
the next year. One hundred
grains were planted, 10 to a row,
10 rows to the plat of experiment
ground. the year after, from this
first yield. The best of this grain
was replanted each successive sea-
son, until now the 10-acre field
shows yields of from 40 to 65
bushels an acre.
1--WE hardly dare tell the public
about this marvellous yield said
Prof. Crossley, because even the
farmers won't believe 1t. But
down in Mahaska county let a
farmer have a sack OF our new
grain to use, and his yield was
enormous, too"
The average grain of wheat will
produce 800 to 600 grains on the
stalk. So each time grain is
dropped In the soil at the college
here 1t means 600 times as much
good to other farmers as 1t meant
the first time Pro. Crossley be-
gan the experiment. All the yield
will be distributed among farm
ers.
So pleased was Secretary Will
son with results that the govern
ment is now raging half the ex-
pense OF continuing the expert
ments.
AS each individual plat of
wheat ground natures, It's crop Is
threshed separately, and for this
purpose students of the college
have devised a small threshine
outfit run by a gasoline engine
Every step is taken to keep accu-
rate account of each plot, and nc
outside grain is allowed to become
mixed with the experimental bon
|anaza seed.
A change has come over the
crops of western Iowa, where the
farmers always have been noted
for diversified farming. Alfalfa has
been added to the output and less
wheat and corn are being raised
there. Every farmer is keeping &C
count of his crops of alfalfa for the
college.
The reason why Iowa is such {
heavy producer in all kinds Of
crops" said Prof. Crossley, sis be
cause the soil has inexhaustibls
fertility II proper rotation and care
is taken Of 1t. Iowa leads the
world In oats and has been fight
ing nip and tuck with Illinois fol
the top production of corn.
Ears of corn and grains o.
wheat are a great deal like ami
mails Some are better than Others
and some will produce better stoci
than others. We have chosen tn,
best and by careful work hav;
proved that e5 bushels an acre
can be raised IN this state.
THE country's corn crop Is O
such magnitude that people hardl,
realize IT," and Prof. Crossley be
Igan to figure on sheet OF paper
do you know" he eaid, that THU
years corn crop-about $500
900, 900 bushels--would fill a cril
Ie feet wide, 8 feet high ant
Preaching from New York to SaI
Francisco. Or It would make |
pile . mile square and It's fee