Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25

the obviously superior ears in their barns
and use these in planting the new crops
the yield per acre will increase the first
year by five bushels. On the 90.OOO,OOO
acres in corn an additional 45O.O0O.00O
bushels would be raised the first year
and an additional $225,OOO,OOO in wealth.
or $40 to each family in the nation, would
result with no additional labor.
They show that this process of selec-
ton in Seed if carried on year after year
should result in an increase of ten bush
els to the acre. giving every family in
the nation an added wealth of $40 year
The use Of a check-rower that will plant
the seeds in hill few inches apart, in
stead OF all together, will increase the
yield of the nations corn by $4,000, 600
a year.
An increased yield Of ten bushels of
corn to the acre through the testing of
the termination of seed corn before
planting is easily possible. Twenty per
cent of the corn planted fails to grow
because the seed is defective. Yet test
of its vitality is easy.
The average production Of the country
is twenty-six bushels to the acre. Yet
there are many men in all sections who
are producing twice that amount, some
who are producing three times as much,
and a few who are producing four times
as much. What one man can do Is pos
sible for another.
4 X
There are advantages to be derived
from a more intelligent cultivation Of the
crop. through a right preparation of the
soil. through proper fertilization, through
a revitalizing rotation Of crops. through
drainage, through right harvesting. There
are many things with reference to corn
growing that call for the necessity of
taking thought. In that corn growing is
the life business of many farmers, there
would seem to be no reason why thought
should not be given it. This taking
thought on the part of the farmer might
easily result in the doubling of the corn
crop of the nation. 1t might result in
raising the present amount of corn on
half the acreage and allowing the farmer
to use the additional acreage for other
purposes. At any rate, study of Amer
ica's prime crop has resulted in the COM
pilation of information that is worth two
billion dollars q year to the American
farmer II he sees fit to use it. 1t is now
up to the farmer.
The men of the Department Of Agricul-
ture have led in this study of the posi-
bilities Of corn. The wonders that may be
accomplished have been discovered and
pointed out only within the last half
dozen years. Previous to that corn was
merely the standby of the farmer. sort
Of prop upon which he might always
lean. but never of first Importance.
Today corn is the matter of most vital
Importance and interest to the people of
the nation whe live on the farm. North.
east. south and west, the people are
waking up to its possibilities. The agri-
cultural experiment stations Of the gov
eminent are everywhere pointing to the
possibilities Of wealth in corn raising.
The agricultural colleges are lauding
corn. The consolidated rural schools are
teaching the farm boys the principles of
growing more corn. In the south alone
there are this year $1,000 youngsters
banded together in boys corn clubs. and
raising. in competition with each other,
an acre of corn under scientific direction.
Their average crops on land on which