Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-03-27
Correspondence.
a suggestlon and Am oner.


duced in Maine than 1t now is, and also
that, IL not now, 1t may by careful, busi-
ness-like management become very
profitable crop.
Twenty-Five years ago 1t was thought
that southern Minnesota was too far
north to admit OF the successful prodDc-
tion OF corn, but to-day Minnesota pro-
duces millions OF bushels, and in fact
splendid yields have been made in the ex-
treme north, close to the Manitoba
boundary line.
The writer OF the article referred to
speaks only OF flint corn land that is no
doubt valuable Variety, but nearly all
corn experts, as well as successful farm
ers in the Northwest, prefer dent to flint.
One reason Is that good authority has
proven that, acre for acre, under like con-
ditions, dent is a much heavier yelder
than flint, and bushel for bushel, the dent
produces better results than flint when
fed to stock.
In reply to letters asking about the
merits OF the two kinds, corn experts of
the agricultural colleges of Minneapolis
and North Dakota agree that the dent
varieties are easily the most popular va
rieties grown in the United States, not
only on account OF their larger average
yield, but because they are more easily
digested than the flint, ,produeing better
results with stock.
The days OF very cheap western corn
are over; hence ii is desirable for Maine
| farmers to increase their acreage as we'll
as their acre yield in this most valuable
OF all farm crops, for not even King Cot
ton approaches in value our three billion
bushel crop Of ''golden corn.
The university farm OF Minnesota has
been very successful in breeding new and
early varieties Of cereals, among which is
dent corn known as the "white cap
dent. This seed has been planted and
successfully matured for several seasons
as far north as Grand Rapids, Mimi, and
to the northern limit OF North Dakota.
In order to prove 1t the Minnesota
farm experts have been sending this seed
to the northern counties, where it Is
planted and cultivated according to theii
instruction. When ripened, men are sent
to the different fields (or patchesl tC
measure the land, assist in gathering the
crop, weigh it and determine the yielc
per acre.
Last season, in Aitkin county, the yielc
was ia bushels per acre OF ear corr
(seventy pounds to the bushel) and In an.
other experimental field, in which this
crop was not as well cared for only
seventy bushels TO the acre. Such returns
are not unusual In central and even il
northern Minnesota.
North Dakota and Minnesota have pro
fitted by the splendid work done by tn,
United States government in the South
where more than $1,000 boys. through
clubs, form a great army OF young corn
growers, and have decided that a gooc
way to spread the gospel of more anc
better crops is to form boys clubs. Sc
many thousands OF these wide-awake
energetic youngsters will be enlisted I'M
der the banner OF ''the tasseled corn" the
coming season. They are sure to produce
results and, what is OF more Importance
will become interested in modern agricuI-
ture and decide to make that calling life
work "a work called by ex-Presideni
Roosevelt .'the most honorable, and
should be the most sought-after occupa-
ton.
1t is claimed by many OF the ablest mer
in our land that in few years our people
will consume all of our food products, and
it is more than likely we shall become
importers OF these necessities, tun,ess the
cry OF "back to the farm, now heard in
the land, is generally needed by our peo-
pie.
Maine, like Minnesota, needs more In.
tensive farming, as well as lmorelfarmers
Ii has been conclusiveiy proven that about
the best way to obtain the latter is to in
terest the.farmers' boys in tilling the soil
according to modern methods, and thi:
not only aids and encourages them to se-
iect farming as their occupation, but
makes the State richer by increasing the
number who follow this most important
OF occupations.
notice, by a recent copy of THE AMERI-
CAN, that the Merchants association OF
your city has appointed an agricultural
1 lnis Sdu
effective work by arranging to organize
boys committee clubs In the school dis
tricts, in which clubs several towns may
| be included, IL desirable. Potatoes as well
as grain could be included in the plan OF
growth.
The offering of prizes stimulates the
boys in this work, and am sure the BUSH
ness men Of Ellsworth will readily raise
the amount needed; fi5o ought to suffice.
Toward such sum, for 80 worthy an OBJ
iect, will gladly pay so, and it will also
give me pleasure to contribute to the Boys
corn club one bushel OF the white cap
dent referred to above.
Success to the Boys corn club OF Han
cock county, c. p. DELATrTRE.
| A Useful Occupation.
Lord Luffingham warmly - The
Il