The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-21
INTERESTING TOPICS
WERE DISCUSSED
At Opening Session Of Farmers Week
In Burlington Yesterday Afternoon
Before Good Attendance of
Farmers.

Burlington, Feb. p. Farmers week
opened at the university of Vermont
yesterday afternoon with good attend
ance the first day. The addresses we're
on the subjects of "Humus,7 Trees
and Shrubs as Means OF Country
Identification, Corn Breeding For
estry in Europe and the Canadian North
west"
J. L. Hills, dean OF the agricultural
department in his address on "1Iumus'
said among other things that humus is
Immediately concerned with feeding a
crop. It IS made up Of organic matter
well along towards decay, but not com
pletely decayed and mineral forms Of
plant food in the form Of humates or
salts of the organic acids of the humus.
The humus content of soil NAV vary
from TO 20 per cent. or more, but
usually does not exceed five per cent.
Meadows and forest areas run high
tillage areas relatively low, in their
humus content; hence their need OF
manuring and of rotation
Humus benefits the soil chemically,
physically and biologically. chemically in
that il supplies nitrogen, phosphorie acid,
potash and lime: physically in that it
increases the soil water and heat hold
ing powers and likewise betters soil tex
ture; bologically in that it furnishes
food for bacterial growth.
A shortage in humus is serious
thing, but fortunately it is not ire
arabic Being a main means for the
puryeyal OF plant food Ia the crop. its
diminution entails a lessened opportu-
nifty for plant growth. Yet the mere
addition Of plant food, as in commercial
fertilizers which carry no humus, does
not suffice. The decaying organic mat
ter is also needed. It's adequacy in
a given soil may be determined by
general knowledge Of the soils past his
tory by the survey of It's mechanical
makeup (bc il sandy. clayey, muekyl,
by careful observation of the eompar-
alive effects of farm manures and com
mercial fertilizers thereon, and by the
tint the soil assumes when wet
NJ. B. Cummings, professor of horti-
thitNIt at ltt NitiNFfhlNAs spoke OH
Breeding Corn" and explained that there
are two general methods Of plant inn
provement; one relates to environment,
and involves good soil management
proper fertilization, and approved meth
DDS Of harvesting; the other presumes
good cultural conditions and in addi-
tion brings into uncertain principles of
breeding for improving the quality and
yields In the addresses only the second
method was considered aud attention
was directed only to corn which is to
be used for grain.
There are three general principles Of
breeding which apply to corn. First
Of all there must be q recognition Of
the fact Of variation; there must be a
selection of the desired variation; then
a tentative reproduction and perpetua
tion Of variation in right directions for
increased yields and improved quality.
Variation is of universal occurrence, |
and nowhere is it more easily observed
than among corn plants. Stalks vary
IN size height. number Of leaves, ana
even in number and size Of ears More
over. corn plants vary in yigor, earli-
ness, and productiveness.
The prospective corn breeder. or even /
The corn grower who would improve his |
variety. should recognize the variations /
md make use Of them. Selection should /
follow observed variations. One should /