The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-08-15
SEED CORN WEEK
CAMPAIGN BEGUN
Religious, Educational, Commercial
and journalistic Forces Cooperate .
to Make Plan a Success.
GOVERNOR TO PROCLAIM DATE
Considered in Dollars and Cents the
State Corn Yield in Five Years
Has Grown $17,61O,OOO.

Between now and the middle o.
September Minnesota will see ONT
of the most strenuous campaigns
ever carried on in any state for croI
betterment. This is to be a cam
paign to interest every farmer poss-
ible in obtaining the best possible
seed for the planting of his corn
fields next year. 1t is a campaign
in short to boost Minnesota's fifth
annual "seed Corn Week." The force
behind the campaign is the depart.
ment of agriculture of the University
of Minnesota, and the general in
charge is A. D. Wilson, director OF
the extension at the college of agri.
culture.
AS a preliminary, there went out
to all. the newspapers of the state
University Farm Press News. This
is publication of the University s
department of agriculture, contain
ing the news of the college, for the
use of such papers as may care to
clip from it. The August Is issue
contained much about corn. 1t tells
for example, how similar campaigns
in past years, coupled with other
agencies, have increased the yield of
corn to the acre in Minnesota. The
gain is striking, and the figures may
be reproduced here
Big Increase in Corn Yield
For the five years from 1904 to
1908 inclusive, the average yield TO
the acre was 1913 bushels for the
whole of Minnesota For the five
years from 1909 to 1913 inclusive,
the average yield was 35.1 bushels,
a gain Of more than five bushels.
In 1913 too, there were 2,400,0O0
acres in corn in Minnesota. Multiply
by and you have 100000 bushels
gained by this corn improvement
work Of the state in a single year:
Put into dollars and cents the gain
between 1908 and 1913 for the state
was the dicerence between $33,27O,-
900 and $50,SS0,0O0, or $17,61O,OO0.
There is reason then, for going on
with this good corn work. 1t would
be crime in the eyes of Mr.. Wilson
and his associates not to go on.
Hence the plans for the campaign
just begun.
Another item in the University
Farm Press News for August Is told
what was to be done this fall in
brief, as the plans had been developed
up to the time of sending the issue to
press. These plans have been elabor-
ated since then. That is why it is
said, that the campaign inaugurated
by the UniverSit Farm Press News
of yes terday is to be the most siren
uous yet-not only for this state but
for any other.
Clergy to Cooperate.
Among the innovations this year,
will be an appeal of the clergy of the
state to assist in promoting the week.
by getting it to the attention of all
people interested in selecting seed
corn, which means pretty much every
one. A letter is being prepared to
send out to clergymen of all demon
nations asking their cooperation,
both through the pulpit and through
the Sunday School workers also, in
the hope of reaching large numbers
of young people.
Schools Will Help.
Of course the assistance of the
regular school forces will be asked
and granted as has been the case in
previous years. County superinten-
dents will be advised of the date
assigned and they in turn will notify
their teachers. AS result the
young people of the state, and especi-
ally those of the rural districts, will
not be able to escape the message of