Morris tribune., 1913-04-18
ABOUT CORN.
The Means of Starting Syste-
matte Rotation.

that we are going to plant We
thought about blowing piece OF
ground last fall or expect to do so this
spring. We fee, as though there was
room for a good corn field on every
farm in Stevens County, and that corn
field will be the means of starting a
systematic rotation of crops on our
farms in the years of to come. We
are going to follow the old adage of
growing more corn, to feed more hogs,
TO get more money to buy more land
to raise more corn. Let US digress on
the buy more land and put our money
into improvements making ourselves a
home and in giving the hogs and cattle
the shelter that they so much need.
Since we have desided on the corn
for this year let US start at the right
place, considering the time'of the year
to secure stand of corn and a good
crop.
We have heard about testing our
seed corn by directions as to how to
make and operate tester. We know
that every kernel of corn that we
plant is supposed to make an ear of
corn in. the fall and that one hundred
kernels grown to ears make bushel.
We know that one ear of corn has from
400 to 500 kernels and that if bad
we will lose in our yield in the fall
from four to six bushels of corn. A
loss of four to six bushels of ordinary
good corn means loss of from two to
three dollars. A fair percentage of
this corn, if it were to grow, would
make good seed corn that would be
worth from three to FIVE dollars per
hushel. Now stop and think it over
and you will come to the conclusion
that every ear of good seed corn is
worth four to FIVE dollars this fall.
We know that it is not too late to
test our seed corn yet. Let's get
busy Tests reported from the schools
show results ranging from twenty per
cent strong termination to ninety per
cent strong termination. If the first
corn tested is planted one acre of land
will be used for the growing of corn
where one fif h of an acre would pro-
duce as much corn as the whole acre.
provided the good seed were selected
and planted on that one.ffth acre.
In other words, if we select our good
seed and plant it discarding the rest
we can raise as much corn on ope-ffth
of the acres with less work and have
the other four-fifths of our land
for other crops. We have felt that
we could not afford to get along with
less acreage of corn so have been
purchasing some corn that has been
shipped here from some distance. some
as far as from other states. Remem-,
ber, dear friends, what has happened
in the past in regard to imported corn
will quite likely happen in the future.
Iowa corn is very good in it's place,
but its place is in Iowa. Likewise
Dakota corn is very good in its place
but it's place is in Dakota. The
place for Stevens County corn is in
Stevens County. Do you get the point?
Grow your own seed corn for this
ccuntyl Should you have no seed
corn II en- grow it as close to home as
possible, if rot in Stevens County
then the closest point in the adjoining
counties.
Good home grown seed corn is of so
much value to US. while bad seed corn
sent to US from afar is SO detrimental
to US that ] cannot help repeating.
beware Of poor seed corn and seed
shipped in from great distances. 1t
takes more than good seed corn to get
a crop of corn. The seed bed is an
all important part as we'll as planting
and cultivation.
There has been but little moisture
this winter and the spring SHOWS
have given a sufficient an cunt of
moisture to last as long as we need
moisture. There is a way. however,
Of saving part of this moisture and
at the same time put the land in bet
ter physical condition and give all
vegetation a chance to start growing.
That way is to harrow the corn lanG,
right away and break up the clods
and at the same time get dust mulch
On our heavier soils that are cloddy
. good disking at this time will be
very beneficial and the corn will be
that much better for it. Preparing
corn land after the corn is planted is
poor economy. Weeds of all kinds
will be present to such an ex-
tent that it will be almost impossible
for them to be removed. let alone the
loss in moisture that the corn plant
so much needs.
Have you ever seen large manure
piles in the yards and near the barns
Of +hie tjna of fha vaar2 have