Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-03-26

raise 100, 200 some high 800
bushels to the acre. yet the average for the entire
crop Is never increased.
Is 1t likely that there is anything wrong with
the government figures? do not think so. There
ts as much care given Is possible to insure
accuracy, and dare say that many farmers, even
II they raise more 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 pretty good type of
iarmer, on the whole. hard working and inte
gent The best that we have been able to pro-
ouce OF the true American. and for the most part
tpe oest or the sturdy sons of the soil from many
foreign lands. We have q national department of
agriculture that has been the envy and the copy
OF the world, which is in a sense farmers uni.
versity. and the sole aim and purpose of which has
been, and Is. to make better farmers. For a gen.
Grafton or more 1t has striven by study, expert.
ment and printers ink lavishly disseminated, to
educate the farmer and bring him to higher level
as an eficient tiller of the SOIL Through the work
OF It's many professors 1t has presumably told the
farmer much about seeds and soils and methods
OF cultivation. and of protection from insect pests.
an nnnite variety OF details about the vital facts
concerning his business. yet the result remains
the same, SO far as corn is concerned year after
year-30 bushels to the acre.
In almost every state in the Union there is now
and has long been. an agricultural experiment sta
tion, 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.
tions 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 are constantly
disseminating by means of lectures, correspond
0nAo nd bull
by such-yet the net result after all these years
Is an average Of 30 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 on 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.
methods Of cultivation, seed selection, inviting
him freely to ask questions to the end that he
may become q more enthusiastic worker and raise
better crops. Although this has been going on
for years and beyond question many have profted
by It, yet the average yield of corn the past year
was just the same-30 bushels.
Is 1t possible that the present type of farmer
has reached the limit Of his capacity to improve?
1t may be At any rate, besides all this there
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 as 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 ad-
NIT; 1t is the doctrine that has long been preached
suits of my experiments with the hope that 1t may
lead others to try along the same lines. There is
nothing difficult about It, there is certainly nothing
costly; II amounts to simply little more thorough
and intelligent heart interest in ones labor
To secure a 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 foeks. And once he has secured
type of corn that shows increased productive
hess, he must try to keep II pure. avoid inbreed.
ng and maintain its stamina, with the same
vatchfulness and care that all breeding demands
It does not require scientific education to
,row more and better corn, or better crops of any
lind 1t does require brains. One of the first
hings to be done is to get out of the slipshod
Ways Of working. Corn. especially, is one of the
most abused crops of the farm. Because it will