Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-06-04
226. BUSHELS or
CORN FROM ACRE
An Interesting Article By J. ",
verne|sOn, A Maryland
Farmer.

John w. Vernelson, now farming at
Henderson, Md, contributes an inter-
esting article to the Denton journal.
showing what can be done in corn culture
in some sections Of the country. John
Bats, friend Of Mr.. Vernelson's,
gathered 226 bushels of corn from one
acre. Mr.. vernelson quotes Mr.. Bats
description Of the planting, care and
harvesting Of the corn as follows
81 planted the acre and had the corn
gathered under the rules and regulations
of a contest conducted under the aus
pices of the North Carolina Department
Of Agriculture. The official report is.
therefore, on file and with the afiidavits
of disinterested witnesses, proving the
actual measure of 226s bushels to the
acre. | can tell the story in few
words. prepared the land and pre-
pared the seed, and resolved to make
as much corn on one acre as hard work
and close study would produce.
my land was not extraordinary land
in any respect. Eight years ago this
acre which this year produced 226s
year it produced only eight bushels of
wheat. OF course, when made up my
mind to enter for the Wake County and
State of North Carolina corn prizes for
this year felt that was handicapped,
so far as my land was concerned. and l
had to use great deal of fertilizer.
''But | attribute my success to seed
selection and seed development more
than TO any one thing. had only one
year in which to prepare my land for
the contest, but fortunately had been
working at seed development seven
years, and had the advantage of an
extraordinarily prolific seed. How l
brought this about may interest your
readers.
"Seven years ago decided that hard
work ought to be supplemented with
prolific seed, If would get the most
from my labors. And so set aside q
spot (less than half an acre) in which
year by year | have bred corn to the
prolific type, working for hard, white
grain and small white cob of handy size.
My aim has been to produce a handy
size OF ear and four ears to the stalk,
and each ear well filled out. have pro-
duced many stalks having from five to
ten ears, but have kept steadily to my
object of producing four good we'll
shaped and fulfilled ear to the stalk.
planted the acre to this seed, selecting
the best. and while ! would have made
a good yield with ordinary seed, | be-
lieve that my six years work on seed
Improvement accounts for the very
great success of my yield over that Of
others in the contest-my highest COM
petitor having produced less than 100
bushels. and he had better land. think,
than mine to begin with. That is to
say, | think, other things being equal,
my seed added 1884 per cent. to the yield
If not more.
"Now as for the soil, the fertilizing
and working, kept diary of this acre
almost day by day. and 1t is on file with
the North Carolina department of agri-
culture. If you could afford the space
| would give the details of this diary,
but as your space is limited, must con-
dense. | viii write chiefly of the early
preparation of the land and the planting.
"'rhe soil is stiff. dark, sandy upland,
top soil IL inches. with 10 inches yellow
clay sub-soil. II was old land. fol-
lowed last years wheat crop with cow
peas, cutting about three tons Of vines.
On the 18th of March, 1909, began
special cultivation for my corn crop,
with heavy application of constable
treatment. March 18th broke the land
II inches deep, one-h0rse Dixie turn
ing plow following. plowing at depth
of six inches which left the land broken
to depth of eighteen inches. The land
was narrowed with smoothing harrow
the same day. On April 9th plowed
crosswise to the first plowing and made
another generous application of ferti-
lizer on April 18th, using 800 pounds of
acid and 206 pounds of cotton seed meal,
which was broadcasted.
"The corn was planted April 18th, the
seed being dropped about eight inches
apart, three grains to the hill. and about
three inches deep. used three gallons
of my seed. which is known hereabouts
as Bats Prolific Four-Bar Corn, and
which my neighbors have been using
for several years.
1.-THE seasons were fairly favorable
and cultivated constantly. The wind
blew the corn down several times, but
II was SO vigorous that il Strengthened
up perfectly. When the harvest time
came l had the finest field Of corn ever
seen about here-1S, 900 to 1900 stalks
on the acre. all growing full and rank and
loaded with good and perfect ears.
call especial attention TO the fact that
the ears were perfectly filed out, az
grained many barrels on the end Of
them. Thousands of visitors came TO
see the crop, among them General Kit
chin, Of North Carolina, who showed
that he was a good judge Of corn by
predicting that the yield would be more
than 200 bushels.
'In a year or two intend to beat
this record. My land is in much better
condition and have learned some things
Of value. will break the land earlier
and will put more vegetable matter in
the soil. and of course am sticking to
my policy Of using prepared seed as well
as prepared land.
''If have demonstrated to my fellow
farmers that only a few acres areneeded
where many have required large fields,
and have shown how 200 bushels of corn