The state herald., 1913-08-15

is surely an amazing fact that the
corn crop OF the states should av-
erage year after year only about 30
bushels to the acre. The acreage
planted is increased by millions from
year TO year. Vast areas of virgin
territory are constantly being brought
under cultivation. 1t is a matter OF
record that many farmers raise 100.
200. some as high as 300 bushels TO
the acre. yet the average for the en-.
tire crop is never increased.
Is 1t likely that there is anything
wrong with the government figures?
do not think so. There is as much
care given as is possible to insure ac-
curacy. and / daresay that many
farmers. even II they raise more than
30 bushels to the acre. will feel salts.
ned that the figures are correct from
his knowledge OF what the average
yield is In his district
The farms are titled by pretty
good type OF farmer. on the whole.
hard working. and fairly intelligent.
The best that we have been able to
the most part the best OF the sturdy
sons OF the soil from many foreign
lands, We have a national depart.
ment OF agriculture that has been the
envy and the copy OF the world, which
is In n sense. farmers university.
and the sole aim and purpose OF
which has been and Is. to make bet.
ter farmers. For generation or
more, II has striven by study, expert.
ment and printers ink lavishly dis.
seminated. to educate the farmer and
bring him to a higher level as an ef'l.
cient tiller OF the soil. Through the
work OF Its many professors II has
presumably told the farmer much
about seeds. and soils. and methods
of cultivation. and OF protection from
insect pests. an infinite variety Of de.
tails about the vital facts concerning
his business, yet the result remains
the same. so far ms corn Is concerned.
year after year-thIrty bushels to the
acre.
In almost every state In the Union
there is now. and has long been. an
agricultural experiment station. work.
Ing In cooperation with the federal de.
partmont OF agriculture and hand and
hand with the farmers OF the state TO
educate him. The stations are
equipped with professors. and ex.
perts, many OF them OF the highest
authority In the land. vast tracts are
under experimental cultivation. they
have been planning. working. testing
soils and seeds. and fertilizers. TO aid
the farmer In the exercise OF economy
and the growing OF better crops. The
net results OF their labors they are
constantly disseminating by means
OF lectures, and correspondence, and
bulletins. frnc. for all who would avail
Of ruch-yst tho net result after all
these years IL mn average OF 30 bush.
els TO the Hore for corn
Tho hg,tculturalo colleges have
gone even further than this. They
have In many instances not been con.
tent 10 work and lecture and print
the results OF their laborr for tho
benefit OF progressive farmers, they
have been militant In their work.
have Instituted campaigns OF cduca.
ton by sending out rome OF tho pro.
fessors on special trains. right In the
hcart OF farming districts, and giving
tho farmer heart.to-hcart talks, and
object lessons In better farming
methods: telling him about soils.
methods OF cultivation. seed selcc
ton. inviting them freely to ask
questions, TO the ond that he may be.
come a more enthusiastic worker md
raise better crops, Although this has
been going on for yearu and beyond
question many have pronted by II.
yet the average yield for corn the
past year was Just tho same-so
bashols.