The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-02-11

Mother Earth may offer her choic
est fields, the sun may lavish hi!
brightest rays, the gentle shower.
. may float down on the balniest vino
of spring to nourish the infant plant
yet if this child Of God has beer
touched by the blighting breath OF
decay, or is the offspring of perverted
parentage, all kindly care of loving
nature, aided by the hand of man
but emphasizes the more strongly
that, whatsoever a man soweth that
shall he also reap" Upon the great
fundamental law that like produces
like rest all human progress. That
poor seed means poor harvest no one
will question. Unless great care is
taken to plant only the best seed the
crop will gradually deteriorate or run
out, as we often express it. In the Sc
lection of seed corn the object is to
secure more grain and not a greater
per cent of stalk. The result is that
an ear Of corn weighs as much as the
stalk under ordinary conditions. If
the seed is poor we may obtain two
thirds of crop of stalks, but less,
possibly but one-third of crop of
grain. Corn requires much greater
care to prevent deterioration than
most other crops. Even though we
take advantage of the years of care
full work done by some one else, by
buying supply of improved seed
corn, it is absolutely necessary that
we continue the careful work each I
year or it will soon run out. Years
ago farmers gave little study or
thought to corn with the view of in
creasing the yield through seed Sc
lection, cultivation, ETC.
1t was thought that corn was corn
and if planted and cultivated enough
to keep the weeds out that was all that
was necessary to produce a crop. We I
have today a few corn growers who
are following the footsteps of the old
time farmers. They still rob the soil {
If it's fertility, paying little or no at
.ention to selection of seed. Rotating
,rops was never thought of, good
seed bed was not considered, and the
seed was possibly picked out of the
rib before planting time.
Good soil, good seed and good cul-
ivation are three factors in corn I
growing Volumes have been written
md published in agricultural papers I
IN seed selection and soil fertility,
md farming schools have worked hard |
md accomplished wonders along this
inc, but still we have few farmers 9
ret who think that they can go on
'ear after year removing tons and |
ons of hay and grain from an acre I
# land and still expect it to produce q
-ood crops. These farmers might be c
allied soil robbers, thinking only of Z
elf and present gain. We all know q
hat it would be impossible to raise n
God corn on worn-out land, but it is p
ossible to follow the methods given Z
y the farming schools to exercise s.
reat care in selecting only the best D
ED and to keep up the fertility of VI
lie soil that one may continue to o.
improve the corn and raise big crops u
n years to come. A man may start al
the shoe business and stock up in el
| sizes and kinds, making his store SC
,st class in every respect. His prof u
S for the first few months will be u
rye, but unless he continues to re- Oil
enish his store with new goods to ai
'ep up the supply his profits will WI
on diminish. And so it is with our W.
rms if we allow them to become
pleted For several years the ag- &c
cultural school of Ames, Iowa, has Sc
en- demonstrating the effect of good o.
ed corn. They collect samples in ad
e ear from 70 or 80 farmers in each or
unity, so as to be sure to get corn ca
actly like that planted on the mans co
IN farm. These samples are all ye
anted in the same field in the coun- tic
in which they were collected, and jeC
E given an equal opportunity in ev- wo
Y respect. They have always shown of
difference in yield of at least 20 gr
shells to the acre and more often so exl