Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-03-28

the corn field be located in the so
called corn belt, on the hills of New
England, the plains of Texas, or the
fertile table lands of the Pacific
Northwest.
According to statistics gathered
from all sources, the farm value per
acre Of the crop is greatest in those
sections where artificial methods are
necessary to overcome natural obsta-
cles found in soil and climatic con-
ditlons.
In the year 1911, the average
farm value per acre of the $4,000
acres of corn grown in Oregon and
Washington is given as $23 per acre,
that of Alabama and Mississippi at
$3.50 per acre, that of Iowa and
Missouri at SIS per acre, that of
Minnesota at $40 per acre, that of
Illinois at $3.50 per acre, that of
Virginia at SIC per acre, that of
Pennsylvania at $2S per acre, that
of Maine at $50 per acre, that of
Connecticut at $40 per acre.
The average yield per acre in the
year 1911 for the nine states in the
North Atlantic group was AZ bushels
per acre.
In the eight South Atlantic states,
20 bushels per acre.
The five North Central states east
of the Mississippi river, which in
cludes Indiana and Illinois, averaged
35 bushels per acre.
The seven North Central states
west of the Mississippi river, includ-
ing Iowa and Kansas, averaged 23
bushels per acre, while Minnesota,
the most northern of this group, av-
eraged 33 bushels per acre, and Kan
sas, the most southern, only 14b
bushels per acre.
The eight states of the south CEN
trail group averaged 16 bushels per
acre, while the average yield per
acre of Idaho, Oregon and Washing
ton was 20 bushels per acre, with "a
farm value of approximately 80 cents
per bushel.
When we talk corn to an Oregon.
Washington or Idaho farmer, he u.s.
ually makes the excuse for not grow
ing corn, that the nights are too
cold. 1t is a recognized fact that
cool nights do exercise a marked in
fluence in retarding the maturity of
corn. To overcome this obstacle, it
is necessary for the corn grower to
secure first, hardy, early maturing
variety of corn. Practical expert
ence has demonstrated that in a few
years by proper seed selection this
variety adapts itself to the cool
nights to such degree that the corn
natures perfectly. Another aid to
this early and perfect maturing is
early preparation of the corn ground,
deep blowing and then continuous
cultivation until time of planting.
which should be when the ground is
warm and the weather conditions
such that the corn will come up
quickly and grow rapidly, after Gull
tivation being shallow but continu-
Gus until after the corn has tasseled.
With our fertile soil and long sea-
son between frosts as compared with
some of the Northern and New Eng
land states, it is entirely practicable
to produce larger yield per acre of
better corn than they are able to do
after an expenditure of SO to $40
per acre for commercial fertilizer.
In other words, while the obstacles
to successful corn growing exist, they
are much easier to overcome than are
those found in other localities where
experience has demonstrated corn
to be one of their most profitable
crops. Scepticism regarding success
full corn growing is perhaps less
prevalent in the Pacific Northwest
today than it was in Minnesota thir-
~ JSoi I6Os AZ tndI IlUl6, JuG I'D
jectors said Minnesota is too far
north, the growing season too short,
the early maturing varieties of corn
too small for us to compete with
such states as Illinois, Indiana, Mis-
souri, and Kansas, where corn grows
naturally" But in the year 1912
Minnesota's 80,00O,OOO bushel corn
crop was much more profitable to
the growers than was their $4,000
900 wheat crop.
Another fact clearly brought out
by an investi cation indicates that it
is not necessary to curtail the wheat
crop in order to produce a profitable
crop of corn. In other words, a gem
eral introduction of corn and clover
in rotation with wheat will in few
years more than double the cash val
ne of farm products from any dis