The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-12-02
Testing Seed Corn Brings Coed Re-
suits.

Testing Seed Corn Brings Geod Re-
suits.
Omaha, Neb.-By its sensational
campaign to secure the planting OF
only tested see corn, is the Omaha
Commercial Club responsible for an
increase Of 9,743,000 bushels in the
Nebraska corn crop.
The State Labor Commissioner, who
collects the figures, says Nebraska
produced almost 10,O00,O000 bushels
more corn tn 1910 than ln 1909. He
says 1t means $4,250,0o0 more for
Nebraska farmers. The State Labor
Commissioner knows what he is talk
Ing about. He has better system of
gathering crop statistics than the De-
partment of Agriculture, and his hun
dredg OF correspondents all over the
State are conservative farmers who
know what they are talking about.
Last spring the Commercial Club Of
Omaha learned from reliable sources
that the corn in Nebraska was not in
good condition for seed. An investi-
cation was made by the publicity bu-
reau. Thousands of samples were
secured from all parts of the State.
Careful tests were made and experts
called in. It was learned that the
run OF Nebraska corn was weak In
terminating power. Some farmers
thought it was all right, and even the
State Agricultural School hesitated to
issue a warning to farmers. But the
Commercial Club kept on. The aver
age I'm a score of tests showed 81 per
cent to be the highest and 20 per
cent to be the lowest. In other words,
the best corn received averaged 81
ears i'm 100 would grow, while the
poorest showed only 27 ears i'm every
100 would grow.
Then the campaign began. The
campaign began. The publicity bu-
reau issued 100000 copies Of little
leaflet telling how to test seed corn;
1t sent letters and reports OF the tests
to every newspaper i'm Nebraska, and
they all helped.
Grain companies put up 1000 yell
low cards saying TEST your seed
corr"
Creamery companies in Omaha and
Lincoln had 2,400 yellow cards placed
fin their local stations, all shouting
"Test your seed corn"
Implement dealers in Omaha and
Council Bluffs sent to every customer
iI Nebraska cards-amounting to T.
5O0-and every one blazed forth the
warning, TEST your seed corn"
The Omaha Clearing House Associ-
alton, composed OF Omaha and South
Omaha banks took up the campaign.
They sent several large yellow cards
to every banking house I'm the State,
and every card said TEST your seed
corn"
The Northwestern Railroad, the
Union Pacific, the Burlington, Mis-
souri, Pacific and the Omaha roads
took up the campaign at the request
OF the Omaha Commercial Club and
every station agent on their lines re-
ceived yellow cards with instructions
to put them up in the stations and
conspicuous places.
Live stock dealers i'm South Omaha
sent out cards by the hundred. Ne
braska was yellow with cards which
said "Test your seed corn" Now the
State liz yellow with I'll crop of corn al
most 100000 bushels greater than
last year.
Banks all over Nebraska sent out
personal letters, called their custom
ers by telephone and told them to test
their seed corn and plant only that
tested.
The Agricultural College at Lincoln
took up the matter, as did commercial
clubs all over the State. Bulletins
were sent out i'm thousand and ten
thousand lots by the State College.
The country newspapers were a big
help. Some printed half page adver-
tisements i'm their papers saying
TEST your seed corn"
Everywhere the Nebraska farmer |
went some one shouted to him, "Test |
your seed corn" Omaha daily papers
gave freely Of their front page space
The campaign was handled like an
earnest political proposition. Reports
OF the tests were made in the papers
as fast as they were completed. The
whole reception room of the Com
mercial Club looked like "a corn crib,
SO much corn was piled In it to be
tested. The grain dealers of Omaha
collected corn intended for seed from
all parts OF the State and shipments
arrived for several weeks, eight and
ten bushels being received daily.
Each station received a report ON the
corn sent and every report was a
warning to test seed corn before
planting. Those who had seed corn
which tested high and desired to sell
1t were put into communication with
those who wanted to buy seed corn.
The corn crop is now being har-
vested. It liz almost 100000 bushels
greater than last year. More seed
was tested in Nebraska than ever be-
fore and while the Commercial Club |
or Omaha Ii modest in claiming the
credit, the fact remains that the or
ganization furnished the money to
warn Nebraska farmers and the in
telligence to awaken Nebraska to the
necessity Of planting good seed. 1t
was one OF the strongest campaigns |
ever Waged i'm any State for a given |
purpose, as more avenues were used |
and more vital spots reached. 1t |
cost the Commercial Club less than
$l,OOO. The investigation and cam
pa1gn following resulted from the
manager of the Publicity Club buying !
one cent paper in Des Moines and |
seeing black headline saying Iowa
seed corn was unfit for seed and if |
planted would result in tremendous
loss to the Iowa farmers.
Thus the investment OF one cent
led to the Commercial Club starting
It's campaign, investing $1,000 and
making Nebraska farmers $4,OOO.25O.
Reads Book Upside Down.