Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-27

Inc SEAENAAOl anu AAAAl40N NAAANAAN "a $3.50
corn is a subject OF universal interest 10
Georgia farmers. Something like 100000
acres are devoted TO this crop. and for
years the yield has been so low as TO
sometimes make the planter feel II was
not a profitable crop 10 cultivate The
conclusion was frequently reached that
large crops OF corn could not be grown
I'm Georgia Within the past two or three
years the fallacy OF this conclusion mas
been demonstrated, and il is not infre-
ouent now TO hear OF yields OF -, 80 or
~ bushels per acre on considerable areas
of land. while special pIats here and
there frequently produce as much as %
10 100 bushels.
While much progress in the develop
ment OF farm motors and labor-saving
implements has been made, the horse
and mule still remain the principal mo-
tive power Of the farm. Ii has been
shown that more efficient cultivation OF
the soil is necessary 10 secure increased
Yields. This means that larger and
heavier mules must be employed. It Is
also seIf-evident that the high price of
these animals makes il incumbent upon
the Georgia farmer TO breed more of
them at home. To do this and maintain
work stock Cheaply and efficiently, large
supplies Of grain must be raised at
reasonable cost. Increasing the yield
Of corn per acre. therefore, is vital
matter TO the state. and justly becomes
one OF the most important questions 20
which the attention OF the farmer can
be directed.
bulletin on Suggestions on Corn
Breeding has recently been prepared by
Mr. p o. Vanarter, superintendent o.
field demonstrators, at the College oil
Agriculture. IL contains many sug-
gestiOns which can not be more than
touched on in a paper such as this. but
the publication can be secured free OF
cost by any farmer in the state who Is
interested in the subject. and IL Will pay
him well 10 secure this pamphlet and
read il carefully. and endeavor next year
to put into practice some of the sug-
gestions contained therein
The average yield Of corn in Georgia
for ten years up To 1907 was 107 bushels
per acre. This barely pays for the cost
az growing the crop II corn was plant
ed at the rate Of 500 plants per acre.
Il would only take every fifth plant pro-
ducing u ounces OF grain to make this
yield While the soil is poor In many
cases. no system OF cropping win correct
the bad effects of Standardization in the
corn plant A good prolific variety
should yield 22-5 ounces Of grain per plant
II il Is well bred. One OF the prolific va
rieties grown at the college averaged
rs ounces in 1879. This is a very good
corn II has been carefully selected for
several years. but never systematically
detasselled. cross pouuenated and bred;
consequently one-half OF the plants in
this variety were still faulty, and by
throwing out these undesirable plants
the average yield OF the remaining one
half becomes 22-5 ounces, or at the rate
OF 100 bushels per acre II an average
OF I35 ounces OF grain for every other
stalk OF corn could be secured, II would
bring the yield up to 30 bushels per acre
This. at % cents per bushel. would add
over 100000 10 the value OF the crop.
and corn would then rank in value with
the cotton crop Of the state. Then, the
corn crops which are grown on about
10000 acres OF land would exceed in
value the corn crop Of Illinois which Is
grown on about the same area as these
two crops occupy in Georgia. Surely
this can be accomplished. especially II
the people as a whole once come to real
ize that maximum Yields can not be Sc
cured without the use OF well-bred seed
corn
II is important that immediate atten-
ton be given 10 this matter. for now Is
the time 10 select and undertake TO pre-
serve the seed 10 be used next year We
are all familiar with the marvellous i'm
provement which has been effected in the
railroad engine. for instance, in the past
Is wears and sometimes the farmer con-
cludes that the mechanical genius or
engineer has distinctive advantages over
him. but this is not so. for corn yields
readily 70 Improvement and quite as re-
markable developments in the matter Of
increased yields and adaptability may be
accomplished Win corn as have been
brought about in the case Of the railroad
=, he.
must cease 10 go TO the crib and get
his seed just few days before planting
He should have been studying this prob
lem OF seed selection carefully through
the season. and those who have had a