Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-12
Seed Corn Week.

| Seed Corn Week.
The Governor of Minnesota has
issued proclamation asking the
farmers to devote one entire week,
September II to II, to the selection OF
seed corn, realizing that the future
prosperity of the state depends upon
corn more than anything else. Corn
represents cash, hogs and cattle. The
Minneapolis Journal in referring to
the proclamation states:
Seed corn week, September IL to IL.
should be observed by every Mime
sofa farmer. He should go through
his fields and with the greatest care
pick out the best ears he can find for
next years seeding. That is the first
step in the march toward better
crops. OF course, careful tillage Is
necessary while the corn is growing
But all these efforts will be rewarded
with rich increment in the yield.
South Dakota farmers, and Lincoln
county farmers in particular, have
made wonderful progress in the
selection of seed, improvement in crop
yield and quality of corn raised. 1t
may be safely estimated that the
increase per acre, under improved
conditions, represents 5 bushels to
every farm in the county, and to be
more particular, we might say the
increase, in many individual cases,
represents 10 bushels to the acre, and
those who have given the matter close
attention think that some have ex-
ceeded that.
No one, however, will question the
wonderful improvement in quality
and yield since the LEADER began it's
corn educational campaign ten years
ago, and many thought the editor
trifie foolish to offer a $75 buggy for
the best bushel of corn raised in the
county, and we only got 80 bushels in
the contest, but the LEADER had an
object in view. 1T wanted to convince
our farmers that there was much to
learn about corn raising and the result
was revelation to ALL. From that
year the interest in good seed and
quality has increased until today the
increase represents in money about
half a million dollars year and still
our farmers are learning something
new about corn every year.
Corn week in Minnesota shows how
deeply interested the governor and
the people are getting over good seed,
and Minnesota's action gives our
people timely hint. Many of our
best farmers last year and the year
before, delayed picking seed corn
until rains and frost dropped down
and ruined some of the best corn in
the country.
The LEADER has no corn week to
offer, but the LEADER urgently re-
quests every farmer in this county,
or elsewhere to select their seed when
the corn is fit, and delay not this Inn
portant work for any other work on
farm. There is on work on the farm
half so important as selecting good
clean dry seed when ripe The delay
of day or two may bring rain or
frost or a storm and your splendid
seed corn of today may be ruined
tomorrow.
Every farmer in the county knows
what good safe seed means about the
first of April Many found trouble in
securing the seed they wanted last
spring, but the hunt for good seed
became so incessant that all became
and the result was that seed
corn was more closely examined last
Spring than for any previous year,
and this only goes to prove what the
LEADER is trying to impress upon
every man who farms for living.
When your corn is ripe and ready
for seed, pick your seed If you have to
miss ball game or a wedding.
There is no work on the farm that
should keep a farmer from picking
his seed corn when 1t Is fit.
When your corn is fit to pick for seed
resolve to pick 1T, because weather is