The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-06-28
TEACHING FARMERS
TO GROW CORN
Uncle Sam Spending Much Time
and Money 10 Get
Best Results.

OF the corn crop and the chances are
that he win either yell for the police or
push you down into chair while he
summons doctor. This is not surpris-
ing The average farmers only notion
of "Rag Baby" is little Mary's
homemade doll, so he may be excused
for thinking that a person who men
lions such thing in connection with
the corn crop In in need of restraint or
medical attention. Explain to him
Just what you mean, however, and in
the majority of cases his interest will
be awakened, then his wonder, and
finally his enthusiasm.
The so-called "Rag Baby" is merely
simple little device for testing seed
corn-so simple that any boy or girl
can learn all about it in ten minutes,
and by its use any farmer is guaranteed
an increase of ten bushels or more per
acre in his corn crop. The method is
now being taught in many district
schools in the corn belt, and the farm
ers are learning of its value and simpG-
city through their children.
The Crop Improvement Committee Of
the Council of Grain Exchanges is re-
sponsible for the introduction Of this
device. The watchword of the commit
tee is "Test your seedi"
Now, the average farmer will declare
that he knows good seed when he sees
it. Or if he can't tell by the looks Of
it he can do so by cracking it with his
teeth, or with a jackknife if he hash {
any teeth.
1t is the purpose of the Crop I'm.
provement Committee to free Just such
sceptics from the bonds of tradition
and convert them to modern, up to date
agricultural methods. They say that if
their efforts are successful it will be
the means of adding millions of dollars
to the value of the corn crop of this
country. Here are the figures, as pre-
pared by Mr.. Bart Ball, secretary of
the committee, with Offices in the Board
of Trade, Chicago.
The average corn county has 100000
acres of corn land. Ten more bushels
from each acre would mean 100000
bushels, which at the very conservative
price of fifty cents would add 100000
to the annual wealth of each county.
If the l14,000,000 and odd acres of land
in the United States devoted to the
cultivation of corn last year could have
been made to yield ten bushels more
per acre they would have added ap-
proximately $3.50, 100000 to the nation
al wealth.
"Think of this enormous sum OF
money going to waste, all for lack of 8
little discrimination on the part of the
= 4hnir uaad ~ QaIT
Mr.. Ball. "And this waste not only
applies to corn, but to all other grains
That is why the Crop Improvement
Committee, in cooperation with thu
agricultural colleges, is endeavoring t.
collect information of the activities il
every direction, in every State and il
every vocation. That is why when w
learn of good thing in one section W
want to multiply it by thousand ant
carry the gospel of good seeding int
every county in the United States. l
is not a question of planting NOR
acres, but of obtaining larger yiel'
out of the same acreage, with NOR
brains and less sweat.
"'Many plans have been devised b.
the committee to induce both men an
bows to accomplish the desired result
by putting them into competition wit
each other. 1t is the gaming instinc
made practical. Every man is interest
ed if he thinks he can do somethin
better than his fellow. There are sev
eral methods to induce each man to Sc
himself as others see him, to learn hi
true place in the farm equation. On
of these methods is to give each ma
20 HE ability 4
raise corn, based upon his own signe
statement The idea is, of course, t
prevent those below the average froI
placing all the blame upon Prov
dence."
Mr.. Ball is enthusiastic over the agr
cultural kindergarten idea. He b'
lieves that if the boys and girls can b
interested in seed testing it will b
possible to interest many farmers-th
fathers, relatives or neighbors of tn
children-whom the committee soul
not reach directly. At the same tim
they will be educating future generi
tions of corn growers.
The latest and most successful wa
for testing different grades of see
corn in order to know which grade wi
work best under local climatic cond
tions or that possesses the require
strength to make good seed, is b
means of the "Rag Baby" method.
The "Rag Baby is made in tn
manner; Cut as many pieces of Of
cloth, about a foot square, as there al
ears of corn of different crops under e,
animation. Place on one square I
cloth several kernels from a certai
ear; lay another square on top of tn
with kernels from another ear, and a6
as many squares as you have differel
grades Of corn for.
When the pile is complete, make
roll of it, being careful not to roll t.
tightly. Tie some soft tape or strin
4 of the same cloth around the TO
about one inch from the end.
From twenty to thirty ears can
( tested in each roll.
After the roll is tied up it is plac
4 in bucket of water and thRre allow
to remain from two to eighteen hou
: as the operator may prefer. The wat
{ is then poured of, the roll placed on