Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-23

ity is the better for it, but if one pulls
one way and the other goes another
way, the community must suffer for it.
Now, gentlemen, if the farmers we're
more up to date there would he no
need for this poor stand of corn. There
is another thing | wish to mention 1t
seems to me although | am sorry to
say it. the farmers are not appreciat-
ing the interest the business men are
taking toward the farmer, for instance,
there are thousands of dollars going
out from here , to catalogue: houses.
Every dollar ought to stay right here,
and want to urge the farmer to
stand by his home merchants but |
am to talk of seed corn. ,
Situation is Bad. &. -. ~,
THE seed corn situation is serious
one, and to send off to some other
place for it will not bring results.
Illinois cannot furnish it as they need
all they have there. In the south the
situation is worse. We might get some
from Nebraska and North or South
Dakota, but no doubt they need all
they have and it seems to me that we
have enough to do with what we have
by testing our own and knowing that
what we plant is o. k. before we plant
it, =. t,s.- o. II. 80
i Other Farmers Talk.
l.. J. NeWqnist of Columbia town
Ship, told of testing corn from the
crib, which proved good two years ago,
as out of 200 grains, but one grain
was bad. He stated. however, that
his experiences with corn proved diff
ferent at times and was not always
the same. 49, II
"A. J. Gardner from the vicinity OF
Eddyville, told Of test in which 300
grains yielded showing of 100 per
cent. He said that his reading along
the subject of seed corn, however, had
shown him that the seed corn condi-
tion is bad. A Mr. Morrison said that
he believed that the seed corn should
be tested to learn whether the plant
will grow before planting the seed.
EIe stated that he had plenty of seed
fer his own use and test showed it
to be Of good quality.
Shepherd Demonstrated. :.
James r.. Shepherd demonstrated
with tester which he had brought to
the meetisg and showed in the demon
stration the various results obtained
in testing corn. These included the
dead ears in the tray; the diseased
ear whose grain if planted will spoil
a whole field because Of a fungus in
| the grain that, is not discoverable in
a knife test or inspection; the weak
ears that will sprout but have a poor
root, and the good ear. He also made
knife test Of diseased corn which
looked like good corn except for 9
small spot barely visible to the eye
and which will not yield good crop
Mr.. Shepherd will give the results Of
a 400 ear test at the meeting March
80 and invites all of the farmers who
care to do SO, to let him test ten ears
for them which he will return and give
them the result Of the test as we'll.
lmeg Tells Of Tests.
| There was some discussion relative
to having professor from Ames lee
ture on the subject of seed corn. bu
many of those present said they woult
be as ready to rely on the judgmen,
of A. j. Gardner and Walter Imeg or
the subject of sciestific corn raising
termination, etc., as on the word o.
the school men. Mr.. Imeg presented
/ one of the best and the longest paper
on seed corn testing that was deliver
ed at the meeting. The views Of Mr.
Imeg are given in full as follows:
! Last fall was as near ideal for the
maturity of corn as was possible fol
nature to make it, With all this ir
mind it seems as if we were over.
throwing all rules and suggestions fol
| the proper selecting and storing Of
seed when we now say that the SEED
corn this year is poorer than it has eve
| been since scientific investigation 'o
| the same was started.
1 "Inasmuch as there is a reason fol
everything this matter can be thresf-
ed out very easily. Corn stored in cribs
or other outbuildings. the air of which
has about the same temperature ant
per cent Of moisture as the open air