The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-08-21
GllRYW ~ EzE STOCK
By HORACE MARLEY

T is surely an amazing fact that the
corn crop of the states should av-
= erage year after year only about 80
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. It is matter OF
record that many farmers raise 100,
200, some as high as 800 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?
I do not think SO. There is as much
care given as Is possible to insure &C
curacy, and l daresay that many
farmers, even II they raise more than
80 bushels to the acre. will feel salts
fed 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
produce of the true American, and for
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 a sense, a farmers university,
and the sole aim and purpose OF
which has been and is, to make bet
ter farmers. For generation or
more, 1t 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 effl-
cient tiller of the SOIL Through the
work of its many professors it 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 as 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.
partment 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, free, for all who would avail
Of such-yet the net result after al
these years is an average OF 80 bush
els to the acre for corn
The agriculturale colleges have
gone even further than this. They
have in many instances not been con
tent to work and lecture and print
the results of their labors for thu
benefit of progressive farmers, the,
have been militant in their work
have instituted campaigns Of educa
ton by sending out some Of the pro
fessors on special trains, right In th'
heart Of farming districts, and givin.
the farmer heart-to-heart talks, ant
object lessons in better farming
methods; telling him about soils
methods of cultivation, seed selec
ton, inviting them freely to asl
questions, to the end that he may be
come q more enthusiastic worker an,
raise better crops. Although this ha
been going on for years and beyon'
question many have prot1ted by II
yet the average Yield tor corn tn
past year was just the samr3
bushels.