The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-19

~~S~~oc AL ShS, PANO1ShtSA "a any
crops generally depends; upon the OBJ
servance OF a few fundamental princi-
pies. The general practice of a num-
Der OF successful farmers indicates
the methods which will most nearly
give best results. In 1912 and 1913,
Acre Yield Corn contests were held
IN the state to show the possibility
OF the production Of mature corn,
and to- call attention if possible to the
methods which have proven most
successful. In 1912, over 500 farmers
entered the contest, growing over T.
600 acres of corn. In. 1913, 500 farm
boys entered the contest and produced
the highest yields of corn that have
ever been grown in the state.
The success of these corn growers
cured. One hundred and six bushels
per acre was produced by the winner
of the, sweepstakes for the state in
1918. Seventy-six and seventeenth
bushels of corn was the average
yield as produced by the prize win
ners in the southern section. In
the northern half of the state, fifty
seven and four-tenths bushels was
produced on the average by the prize
winners. When the average yield Of
the state is taken into consideration,
- P@ NSAkI -oSFS 4
per acre, the Importance Of these high
yields is readily recognized.
The corn was grown under field
conditions without excessive fertili-
cation or cultivation. A summary Of
Of the methods used by the two hun
dred contestants whose corn was
finally judged, the methods of pre-
paration used by all contestants and
the results as obtained by the prize
winners follows:
. Fall VS.. Spring Flowing:
There is a diversity of opinion as
to whether fall or spring blowing will
give the best results in the produc-
ton of corn. Four-fifths of all the
ty-four out of the thirty producing
the highest mature yields used land
that was spring plowed. The aver
age yield secured was sixty-seven
bushels to the acre. The four win
ming contestants using fall blowing
obtained an average yield of sixty
five AMI one-half bushels. The field
producing the highest yield in the
state, located in the light soil dis
the state, was spring plowed.
1t is probable that the general, prac-
tice Of spring blowing as indicated
will under average conditions
throughout the state, give better re-
suits than may be obtained by fall
blowing. Comparative tests of spring
and fall blowing under exact condi-
tons have not been carried out for a
sufficient length Of time to deter
mine definitely the relative value of
either. The experience Of these corn
growers would indicate that the
heavier soils will give best results
when plowed in the fall, while the
lighter soils may be plowed in the
spring with better results.
Depth of Flowing
1t is conceded that in all cases
ground used for corn should be ploW-
ed deeply and we'll. The depth of
blowing must depend upon soil con-
ditions. Generally a depth of from
five to eight inche is most advisable.
T~wo-thirds of all the contestants
plowed six inches or deeper.
Use Of Manure
Corn will make better use of ma
nure than will the small grain crops
or any of the other forage crops. Ma
nure warns the soil, increases the
bacterial action, Increases the supply
of plant food, and betters the me-
one-half of the contestants applied
n to the corn fields at rates
varying from eight to ten ton to the
acre.
Varieties Grown
Northwestern Dent, Mimi, No. 10,
MINI. No. %, Gehu, Flint, and the
early maturing white and golden
dents are the varieties most gener-
ally grown in the state. In all sec
tons. the Northwestern Dent was
found generally valuable and was
used by nearly ~two-thirds of all the
contestants. OF the other dents,
MINI. No. 13 and Mimi. No. % ranked
next highest, while eleven per cent of
the contestants used some variety Of
flint corn, the Gehu or the white flint
being most popular.
Seven Of the prize winners in the
southern section used MINI. No. 10,
producing an average yield Of seven
ty-four and a half bushels; three
used Northwestern Dent with an
average yield Of seventy-six and a
fourth bushels, n the winner of the
grand championship used Rustlers
White Dent, with a yield of n hum
dred and six bushels. The. remaining
four used various other dents, with
an average Of s~eventy~five and a half
S to he acre, and one used
flint which averaged sixty-ive and
three-fourths bushels.
In the northern section, the North
western Dent was the most popular
variety, securing first place in the
section with a yield of ninety-six
bushels to the acre. Nine of the
winners in the contest used this va
riety, with. an average yield of fifty
six and siX-tenths bushels to the acre.
used flint corn which averaged
fifty five bushels, and one, located
the southern boundary line of
the section, used MINI. No. Is.
r., Home Grown Seed
This contest indicated clearly the
value of home grown seed, and it's
superiority compared to seed brought
in from outside sources OF the thirty
winners in the two sections Of the
contest, tw~enty-six made 8 Of home
grown seed; the others used seed
which was especially adapted to their
particular location. OF the two hun
contestants finally qualifying
with sufficiently high yields to have
their corn judged, sixty-fve per
cent used seed that had been grown
upon their own farms, while many OF
the remainder made use Of seed
grown in the state. It is apparently
in a normal year, to pro-
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