The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-21
FARM SEEDS.
Much Interest in Rock Island
Announcements.
Agricultural College Experts
Add Important Word.

Not only farmers. but seed dealers,
are taking interest in the warning is
sued by the Rock Island Lines and
the International Harvester company
against the indiscriminate use of KAN
sas farm seeds of the 1913 crop. The
statement il made that much OF this
seed will not germinate. and that
much of that which does will be of
low vitality. The drouth of 1918 IL
held. responsible.
Eugene Hayes of the Hayes seed
house of North Topeka thinks that
some injustice may be done to local
corn growers and seed dealers as a
result of the warnings. He says:
The newspapers are giving infor-
nation from the Rock Island Railway
company about seed corn. wish to
take exception to it. for the reason
that We have in Shawnee coutny some
of the best corn growers in the United
states, and We have many thousands
of bushels of corn held here that is
of first class quality, testing out "a to
SS per cent termination, and in some
cases as high as 100 per cent
The Kansas agricultural expert
ment station published today a circu-
lar dealing with the question of seed
corn for Kansas and says among other
things:
1912 Seeds Good.
for any given locality is the home
grown 1912 CROP"
The circular says in part:
Kansas plants, on the average, over
one million bushels of seed corn an
nuaiiy. Because of the large increase
in the amount of wheat seeded last
fall. the acreage Of corn in 1914 will
probably be below normal. The quan-
tity Of seed required will probably be
between 100000 and 100000 bushels.
1S,OO0,O00 bushels of corn, which Is
only 12 per cent of the normal crop.
Very little of this corn is fit for seed.
Because of the drouth and heat it did
yields of from five to ten bushels to
the acre were obtained the corn pro-
Quoted is, as a rule, inferior in quality
and vitality. While much of it may
germinate, 1t lacks the vigor and vital
ity necessary to obtain a good stand Of
strong. vigorous plants.
"A large per cent Of the seed corn
for next years planting must come
1913 crop. Probably the best source
of seed for any given locality is the
home grown 1912 crop. This crop
was above normal in quality, and
where the corn has been kept under
proper conditions it will make good
seed. If the corn is Of good vitality.
it will undoubtedly be superior to seed
introduced from other states, or from
distant localities within the state. In
all probability enough good seed can
be selected from the 1912 crop. togeth-
er with q little good seed obtained in
1913, to supply the needs Of the state,
but to do this the seed must be select
ed at once and put on the market and
properly distributed.
In northeastern Kansas there is
sufficient homegrown corn of the
1912 and 1913 crops to more than
supply the local demand, and in this
part Of the state it is not necessary
to import seeds from other sources.
I'm southeastern Kansas the situa-
ton is not SO fortunate, since both
the 1912 and 1913 crops were short.
In a few favored localities of this part
of the state fairly good seed corn was
corn should be the first choice of seed.
The next best source is seed corn from
Missouri that was grown directly east
of the locality in which it is to be
planted.
Counties That Have Seed.
I'm north central Kansas. especial
1y in Smith, Jewell, Republic and a
few adjoining counties, there is suf-
ficient old corn to more than supply
the local demand and this should be
obtained for seed, IL possible. If
homegrown seed is not available
corn from east central and eastern
Nebraska should be secured.
The same thing applies to central
and southeastern Kansas with the ex-
ception that corn from northeast
Kansas is to be preferred to that from
more distant sources to the northeast
For south central Kansas, early
varieties from central and eastern
oklahoma will be better than those
obtained several hundred miles north
and east. In bringing corn north
there is danger OF obtaining varieties
that will not mature, and care should
be taken that suitable varieties are
secured.
Where There Is Danger.
For the western one-third of the state
corn from central and southern Nebraska
and southern Dakota is perhaps the best
source of seed. in that the varieties OBJ
tanned will mature under western Kansas
conditions. There is danger in obtaining
northern grown seed for any locality in
ture too early to take advantage of the
not capable of producing maximum yields.
"A large quantity Of shelled corn is be-
ing shipped into Kansas this winter for
feeding purposes. AS a rule 1t is a mixed
lot from unknown sources. Many farmers
will be tempted to use this corn for plant
ing rather than to obtain good seed of
varieties known to be adapted to their
conditions. No one can afford to take this
risk. The risk involved is far too great
and more than offsets the trouble and ex-
pcnse of obtaining good seed. This corn
may be poor variety unsuited to Kansas