Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-28
MEXICAN PLANT WIZARD.
Zeferino Dominguez is in Glass with
Luther Burbank.

Zeferino Domlnguez is IN Class with
Luther Burbank.
Banished from Mexico, his native
land, and separated from his wife and
children since last March, Zeferino
Dominguez, the Burbank Of Mexico
has gone to Washington and New
York, says a San Antonio, Texas let
ter. He gave out an interview here on
the value Of carefully selected seed
corn and on world trade conditions
that is of interest to planters and
farmers generally.
Mr.. Dominguez, upon whom has
been conferred the title Of Corn King
by many agricultural colleges in the
United States, has spent twenty-five
years and nearly s5OO,O00 Of his per-
sonal fortune in the study Of seed
corn.
The average corn crop of Mexico is
90, 900, 900 bushels year under normal
political conditions, Mr.. Dominguez
said. This is 10O,0O0,000 less than is
needed to feed the 100000 inhabi-
tants Of the country, since 80 per cent
of the nations diet consists Of corn
Mr.. Dominguez explained the use Of
the term political conditions" in re-
lation to the corn crop. He said Mex
leo in turbulent periods, such as the
revolts have brought about, lessons the
corn crop, since so many farmers are
in the various armies the soil is not
thoroughly cultivated.
IF l had evil news to spread 1t
would travel like wildfire, as you say
here in the United States" Mr.. Do
minguez said. Truth travels at a
snails pace.
1T appears incredible that I should
be able to grow 240 bushels Of corn on
an acre of ground when my neighbor
grows only from Z to II. Many Of
them have taught to do the same as
l. Others have not followed my ad-
vice and are going along in the same
old rut.
Some American farmers would
think l was crazy If l told they they
could raise 24O bushels of corn to the
acre on their farms. They told me the
same thing in Mexico, but since I've
accomplished the seemingly impossible
they simply say I've got wheels in my
head all right, but that they appear to
be running on the right track.
yet it can be done. They can take
a piece Of land on which they raised
thirty bushels of corn last year and
raise sixty on it next year, and it does
not matter whether 1t is dry year or
not.
This yield can be increased so that
within five or six years, through the
proper preparation Of the ground and
the judicious selection of seed, they
can raise as much corn as l can.
Iowa produces 300, 100000 bushels of
corn each year, and 1t Is about one
half the size Of the state Of Michoacan,
Mexico. 1 could raise enough corn In
Michoacan to feed the Mexican nation
if there was not an ear Of corn raised
dHy yWHeTe else III llIS SouhtiS'
THE United States and Mexico are
losing billions of dollars annually
through their failure to produce as
much corn, cotton and wheat as they
can on the same acreage"
Cotton and wheat are occupying
considerable Of Mr.. Dominguez's at
tention now. Again, seed selection and
the proper preparation Of the soil and
the conservation Of moisture re the
secrets of his success, he says.
He raises two and a half bales Of
cotton to the acre, while his country
men worry along" with a third of
bale to the acre. and say Mexico is not
a cotton country The same is true OF
his wheat crops.
Take the testing Of wheat seed as
an example and see how simple 1t all
is" said Mr.. Dominguez. Il take
sack of good wheat seed. From it ]
take three handfuls one from the bot
TOM one from the middle and one from
the top. These l mix well and pick out
at random 100 seeds.
Il place them in damp napkin, put
them on n plate and give them suffi-
cient moisture to make them sprout.
Those that sprout cling to the cloth
and those that are not fertile fall out
when the cloth is turned upside down.
Suppose thirty seeds out Of the 100
fall out This shows me that 30 per
cent of that seed will not grow. The
difficulty is solved readily by sowing
80 per cent more seed to the acre than