The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-19
SUCCESSFUL CORN PRODUCTION
Methods Used by Winners inthe 1912 and 1913 Acre Yield
Corn Contests as Given in N. D. Farmers
Institute Monthly

duce a high yield Of mature corn I'M
less the variety has previously been
grown in that locality and has be-
come adapted to the conditions that
prevail. A. large percentage of the
contestants who failed to produce
good yields Of corr made use Of for
eign seed, with the result that much
Of their corn was immature or in the
green stage. When we take into con-
sideration that the highest feeding
value Of a crop of corn is obtained
through maturing it, the importance
Of the generaluse Of home grown seed
cannot be overlooked.
Time of Planting
The experience Of the corn
in 1912 Inc 1913 would indicate that
the best time to plant corn is from
May 10th to goth. In 1913. sixty-one
per cent Of the corn was planted dur
ing that period, while in 1912, eighty
five per cent was planted at that time,
80 per cent in 1913 being planted be-
tween May 21st and 9th. There is a
tendency to favor the earlier planting.
Two of the prize winning contestants
planted their corn On May 1st and Sc
cured excellent yields. out two-thirds
of all the winners planted their corn
between the 10th and goth Of May.
NCIISl ally 1dACI PIdAIl1l6 SlNSS IluCll
poorer yields. The experience of the
best growers in the state indicates that
corn should be planted as early in
the spring as the ground is warmed
up, and that there is much more dan
ger to the corn crop from the fall
frosts than there is from the late
spring frosts.
Preparation of Soil
Thorough preparation of the soil
previous to planting was given by the
majority Of the contestants. Practi-
cally one-half narrowed the field twice
before planting; one-fourth narrowed
three times. OF the thirty prize win
ners, thirteen narrowed twice, six
narrowed three times, and four, four
times; the remainder narrowing once.
1t was generally observed that the
thorough preparation of the soil before
planting the corn, at least to the ex-
tent of two to three h~arroWings was
probable.
Cultivation after planting was fire.
quent. Most of the contestants cult
waited o exceed foul times. Only
eighteen per cent of the total number
Of contestants cultivated three times
Or less. Those securing the highest
yields cultivated from four to six
times. Practically all of the growers
narrowed or used a weeder on the
corn at least one after planting. The
successful contestants narrowed or
Weeded from one to five times, none
of them less than twice after the corn
was planted. d
The evidence secure indicates that
four to five civilizations, with the nee
essary narrowing, will give good
average results, and as a general prac-
tice in the state, will pay. The ex-
perience of the most successful grow
ers is hat frequent cultivation and
stirring of the land is profitable.
The number of civilizations in any one
section of the state depends upon the
local conditions. The weeds should be
kept down and in addition, the sur
face cultivated sufficiently often to
preserve a good state Of filth.
Date of Maturity
The great bulk of the corn ripened
between September 10th and 18th.
This was slightly earlier than the
previous year, when the average date
of maturity Of the fields entered in
the contest was approximately Sep
TENDER 18th. Most Of the prize win
ming corn was ripe bebore the 10th Of
September, which shows definitely
that it is possible to produce high
yields of corn by planting about the
middle Of May and giving proper care
and cultivation.
An interesting fact brought out in
the contest was that the proportion
Of mature corn grown in the fields in
the southern and the northern sections
Of the state was approximately the
same. Given good home grown seed,
the possibilities of producing mature
yields in the northern section are
apparently as good as in the southern
section. The gross yield, however,
would be somewhat less in the north
ern half. than in the southern half Of
the state, the difference being due to
the production Of a smaller variety
Of corn.
Conclusion
The result of the contest for 1912
and 1918 shows c~onclusively the value
Of using home grown seed corn, and
that users Of this see may expect to
produce fair average yields of. corn in
practically all seasons. Successful
growers gave a greater number of
civilizations n used more care in the
preparation Of the soil than those
not successful. The experience Of
those in this contest would indicate
that this factor can scarcely be given
too much consideration. Future sue
cess In corr culture in the state rests
primarily upon three factors; first the
production and use of good varieties
of home grown seed corn; second, the
proper cultivation and tillage of the
soil, Experience would indicate that
from four to six civilizations are ne
cessary in all sections Of the ~,state);
third, use of the farm manures.
The result Of the contest for the
past two years are encouraging. When
1T is shown that farmers in the
northern half Of the state can produce
yields Of mature corn exceeding ninety
bushels to the acre. and that fifteen
boys from practically every section
In Inc northern area averaged over
fifty seven bushels to the acre; while
fifteen in the, southern half of the
state averaged over seventy-six bush
els to the acre. with a maximum
yield of one. hundred and six bushels,
there is every reason to believe that
with greater care and attention in the
production Of this important crop, the
state may easily increase it's average
yield to thirty OF thirty-flve bushels
to the acre, and at the same time
probably increase its acreage.