Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-03-05

Wa matter of record that many farmers
raise 100, 200, some high as 800
bushels to the acre. yet the average for the entire
crop is never increased.
Is it likely that there is anything wrong with
the government figures? / do not think So There
is as much care given as is possible to insure
accuracy, and dare say that many farmers. even
if they raise than 80 bushels to the acre will
feel satisfied that the figures correct from his
knowledge of what the average yield is in his
district
The farms are titled by a pretty good type of
farmer, the whole, hard working and intelli-
gent. The best that we have been able to pro-
duce of the true American and for the most part
the best of the sturdy sons of the soil from many
foreign lands We have national department of
agriculture that has been the envy and the copy
OF the world, which is in sense farmers uni
versity and the sole aim and purpose of which has
been, and is, to make better farmers For gen.
Grafton or more it has Striven by study, expert
ment and printers ink lavishy disseminated, to
educate the farmer and bring him to higher level
as an efficient tiller of the soil. Through the work
OF It's many professors it has presumably told the
farmer much about seeds and soils and methods
Of cultivation and of protection from insect pests
infinite variety of details about the vital facts
concerning his business, yet the result remains
the same. so far corn is concerned year after
year-30 bushels to the acre.
In almost every state in the Union there is now
ton, working in cooperation with the federal de-
partment of agriculture and hand in hand with
the farmers of the state, to educate him. The sta
lions are equipped with professors and experts
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, fertilizers to aid the farmer in the ex
ercise of economy and the growing of better crops
The net results of their labors they constantly
disseminating by means of lectures, corresponds
and bulletins, free, for all who would profit
by such-yet the net result after all these years
is an average of 80 bushels to the acre for corn
The agricultural colleges have gone even farther
than this. In many instances they have not been
content to work and lecture and print the results
of their labors for the benefit of progressive farm
ers; they have been militant in their work, have
instituted campaigns of education by sending out
some of the professors special trains, right in
the heart of farming districts, and giving the
farmer heart to heart talks and object lessons in
better farming methods telling him about Soils
melhods of cultivation, seed selection, inviting
him freely to ask questions, to the end that he
may become enthusiastic worker and raise
better crops. Although this has been going on
for years and beyond question many have profited
by it, yet the average yield of corn the past year
was just the same-3O bushels.
Is it possible that the present type of farmer
has reached the limit of his capacity to improve?
It may be At any rate, besides all this there is
an agricultural press, of vast proportions through
out the states, working to educate the farmer and
keep him posted on everything that may be of
help to him in his business Many farmers take
several such publications Then again, the tools
that are available to the farmer for his work are
far superior to what they have been in the past
and are improved every year. Is it possible that
the farmer is not a class taking advantage OF
the best tools for his work?
What is the first thing to be done in the growing
of better corn crops? think, in seed selection.
There is nothing startling original in this, adj
nit it is the doctrine that has long been preached
but would simply add my testimony from the re-
suits of my experiments with the hope that it may
lead others to try along the same lines There is
nothing difficult about it, there is certainly nothing
costly; it amounts to simply little more thorough
and intelligent heart interest in ones labor.
To secure corn that will yield tenfold what he
has been accustomed to getting the farmer must
breed for results. He has got to improve the corn
in the same way that he would raise the standard
of his stock or his focks. And once he has secured
a tyne of corn that shows increased productive
ness he must try to keep it pure, avoid inbreed-
ing and maintain it's stamina with the same
watchfulness and care that all breeding demands.
It does not require scientific education to
grow more and better corn. or better crops OF any
kind It does require brains One OF the first
things to be done is to get out Of the slipshod
gays of working. Corn, especially, is one of the
aost abused crops of the farm. Because it will