The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-03
WHY CORN WILL
Be GREAT CROP
Better Farming Expert Says
North Dakota Can Make
500 an Acre.

corn in North Dakota by the proper
cultivation is the remarkable state
mrnt made Ivy J.. w. Naw. the Better
Farming eNpert in Cavalier county. In
the following interesting interview ON
me subject MIR. Haw explains the why
and wherefore OF his conviction:
u mas been a topic of considerable
speculation as to tho future of corn
IN this county and it may not he amlss
to set down some OF the conclusions
which can be drawn from the expcri-
enee of the BETTER Farming associa-
ilon upon their plots this past sum
mcr.
made the assertion at the recent
county corn contest. that in ten years
IT will be possible to raise as much
feeding value upon an acre of land
sown to corn here us is possible at the
present Time in southern Minnesota.
| made his statement upon the basis
OF three conclusions which have been
drawn from experience in raising orn
in this county.
First-That in two years We will be
able to raise our seed of il dent vari-
ety.. If we are able 10 raise our own
SEED III two years. in five years we
will be able to obtain fully matured
corn.
Second-That although corn at this
latitude will produce as much
green fodder per acre. ii vii be enough
richer in dry matter lfeeding valued
to offset this larger amount OF crude
4 material.
Thlrd-That although We can never
produce ears as long or of equal di-
ameter. or ears which lave as deep
kernels as those raised in the present
corn belt. still. there is a strong tend
ency for the corn plant in this more
severe climate. to produce more ears
per stalk to such an extent as to have
an equal amount of corn as that which
Is raised upon a stalk south of here.
III these three points are granted
any person open to conviction can
readily conceive Of the possibility and
Very strong probability that my first
assertion. that we could raise an equal
amount of feeding value, could come
to pass. Briefly the facts from which
the o conclusions are drawn can
raise our own seed in two years be-
cause with poor seed. raised over two
hundred miles south of here. planted
on poorly prepared land and grown
during n of the worst seasons which
has Yet been experienced. still with all
these factors working against US, we
were b to select some ears on most
OF u northwestern dent fields which
We're far enough matured for seed.
This seed has since been tested and
terminates sufficiently strong to war
rant sowing next spring. 1t is too
strong a statement then to say that in
two years seed will he raised in Cava-
Tier county for II own use? If in
two years we a obtain plenty of
seed. in three years more with selec-
ton and are it should easily be pos
sible to bring 1t to full maturity. This
.isupposition Is of course made with
the expectation. that corn raising is
gone at in a systematic manner and
that II is given the best chance DOS
sible.
Slower Growth: Cool Climate.
] would base my second conclusion
on two facts. First that the slower
the growth and the coo,er the climate
the heavier h grain gets. and like
wise the richer the plant itself gets in
dry matter. This is a commonly ac-
knowledged fact. Especially is this
true Of the protin content Of the plant
or that part which goes toward the
production of bone and muscle in the
animal body. Second. that those who
have wintered over cattle both here
and in the corn belt on corn slower say
that cattle thrive much better and
come through the winter in much bet
ter flesh when fed the fodder raised
up here. There is also to be added
the fact hat cattle will eat the en-
tire plant here. whereas with south
crn grown fodder. the plant is SO
much more woody and coarse that a
considerable part of the plant is not
for my conclusions. Those who have
worked in the corn fields of Iowa and
southern Minnesota. have noticed a
striking difference in the amount OF
ears which the stalks bear. in that
country. barren stalks are common.
and entirely barren hills frequently
found. At this latitude on the other
hand, all of the stalks bear n a
many of them two and a considerable
number have three good sized ears.
Those who have paid particular atten-
ton to this characteristic will bear me
out in the opinion that an average
field will bear two ears for every n
to be found In fields In what is now
known as the corn belt. 1t is a COM
monty observed law of nature that a
plant grown in a severe environment
or under u~nfavorable conditions.
seems to concentrate Its energy IN the
| production Of a maximum o OF
/ seed, as II to ward of determination IN
every possible way. A pruned plant.
Towering plants on dry poor soil. both
redouble their energy toward seed
production. it is then nc more than q
natural tendency which prompts the
corn pant III llIS IdStluuC " oA0
a large number of ears. which goes far
toward making up for the increased
size of the ears where there is a long
er season.
This question of the future Of orn
growing should be of vital importance
to all farmers and land owners. for as
vet no permanent farming system has
been devised which does not embrace
a cultivated crop. The need for corn
is urgent the growing of 1t we'll with
in the range Of possibility. to sit back
then with the pessimistic attitude that
1t can't be economically grown Is to
shut ones eyes to all the far most Inn
possible appearing accomplishments Of
this generation.
The saying is an old n and a true
one hat land which will grow corn
is worth 800 an acre. to put North
Dc IN tho man then az a corn