The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-06

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
II they raise more than 80 bushels to the acre, will
feel satisfied that the figures are correct from his
knowledge of what the average yield is in his
district.
The farms are titled by a pretty good type of
farmer on 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 pest OF the sturdy sons of the soil from many
foreign lands. We have a national department of
agriculture that has been the envy and the COPY
OF the world, which is in a sense a farmers uni
Verslty' and the sole aim and purpose of which has
oeen, and is, to make better farmers. For a gen.
Grafton or more it has striven by study, expert.
meht and printers ink lavishly disseminated, to
educate the farmer and bring him to a higher level
as an enlclent 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,
an Infinite 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--3O bushels to the acre.
In almost every state in the Union there is now.
and mas long been, an agricultural experiment sta
uon' 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
ence and bulletins, free, for all who would profit
by such-yet the net result after all these years
is an average of 30 bushels tn tha aora 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 a 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 it possible that the present type of farmer
has reached the limit of his capacity to improve?
1t may be so. 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 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? l think, in seed selection.
There is nothing startling or original in this, | adj
nit; it is the doctrine that has long been preached,
but l 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 a 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 focks. And once he has secured
a type of corn that shows increased productive
ness, he must try to keep it pure, avoid inbreed-
ing and maintain its stamina, with the same
watchfulness and care that all breeding demands.
1t does not require a scientific education to
grow more and better corn, or better crops of any
kind. 1t does require brains. One of the first
things to be done is to get out of the siipshod
ways of working. Corn, especially, is one of the
most abused crops of the farm. Because it will