Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25
Ears luIE, The Sc HANLNWar'
OFMELDMG A HUNDRED
BUSHELS To hIE. ACRE AND
NAlLING hEIR GROWERSRIcH

two separate strains OF well developed
seed We're cross bred. The seed re-
sulting was planted and the crop oh
tanned was far in excess OF the crops
OF either parent growing under the
same conditions. The increase In yield
from this first generation hybrid has
ranged all the way from 10 per cent TO
50 per cent.
The manner of liberalization is in
teresting. Two rows OF corn are
planted side by side. One row is of
one sort and the other is OF another
sort They grow up together. When
they are getting on toward maturity
the tassels are cut off the corn In
one row. That row will then be ferti-
liked by pollen from the other row. The
seed resulting will be cross between
the two varieties When planted IL
will yield the large crop guaranteed by
the crossing of the strains. The corn
resulting from the row from which the
tassels were not cut will. OF course.
pollenize itself and the seed resulting
will be the same as the parent stock.
But by carrying out this process on the
seed plot year after year the farmer
may always plant first generation hy-
brid seed and always get the conse-
quently large yields. The mistake
must not be made. however. OF replant-
ing thA seed from this large yield and
expecting 1t to reproduce itself. for IL
will not do so. In the second genera
ton IT reverts to the yielding capac-
ity OF the parent stocks. and to get the
continued large yields the hybridiza-
tion must be repeated every season.
The scientific farmers have found
one great mistake in planting. Most
OF the corn planters deposit all the
seed for a given hill in one place. The
plants all come up together. The hall
is thinned to four plants. The roots OF
good corn plant require square
foot of soil. but where four plants
come from the same point the roots OF
each are greatly crowded. The plants
may not grow straight from the
ground, but must curve outward ana
be consequently weakened.
Now all this may be corrected by the
use of a newly devised planter which SO
plants are four or six or eight inches
apart. Then they grow straight and
strong. each having ample root bed The
possibility of growing four good ears to
the hill is greatly Increased.
The necessity of getting soil I'm the
proper condition, OF preventing it's eK-
haustion, of properly fertihzfng IT, OF
properly draining 1t, and OF many other
region and often to each farm Intelligent
taking thought may solve the given prob
lem in the given places. There are
representatives Of the Department OF Ag-
United States. Most of the states have
studied the problems that are peculiar
to EACH Both these authorities have work
ed out all the problems that are going to
present themselves to the farmer. There
is no need in his spending years in learn
ing from experience. The farmer should
get in touch with these authorities. Any
farmer in any part Of the United States
who is growing less than Atty bushels OF
corn to the acre is farming foolishly. The
fifty bushels may be his il he will but
take little thought and spend small
amount of time in being instructed. Any
farmer who is growing less than 100
bushels to the acre should not be salts
fled with his crop. There Is untold
wealth in the soil that may be brought
forth by the roots Of the yellow corn and
turned into yellow gold. The men who
take the pains to learn the right methods
are more fortunate than they who find
the streaks Of yellow gold in the sands
that wash down from the mountains.
Their claims will never be exhausted.
The wealth of the Incas and the Aztecs Is
nothing compared with the stores that
await them.