Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-03-09
ANSWERS LEDGERs QUESTION.
xeIl, WilkersOu Tells Why He Paid
sIS For Seed Corn

-
Why s14.Oo per .bushel for seed
eorn7 / have been asked by the press
why the si4.OO seed corn is worth the
price. I will answer why l believe it
worth the price. ! have been deeply
interested in the seed eorn propos-
ition since Farmers Week at Colum-
bia was instituted about eleven years
ago. If / have missed n Of the
meetings during that time, I do not
remember it. ! watched the seed
csrn proposition at Columbia and was
convinced; also watched my men. l
have had from Eve to- eight renters
each year for about twenty years. ]
became convinced by watching that
my men had neglected their seed corn
to their financial detriment, and
was loser with them. One day ] took
a look at one Of my renters corn IN
his wagon and behold found a very
poor quality Of corn. II came out OF
bottom land. The Ears ranging from
five to eight inches long, very poor
low grade corn, mostly white and
blue. Right then ! made up my mind
/ would have the seed corn propos-
.ition entered into my contract. When
/ did SO | agreed TO buy seed corn TO
cost from $3.50 to $500 per bushel. I
was to pay one-half Of said cost, as
II expected TO get one-haif or corn.
Next time I visited Farmers Week at
Columbia seven years ago, ! bought
about $4,000 worth of seed corn. l
took the pains to get the finest, re-
CARELESS of price that was aeclimated
and grew in near by counties. That
fall I do not believe ! 4 ever saw a finer
lot Of corn in any mans crib and
know l never saw anything like it in
my own. From that day to this Moth
ing suits me but the very best. That
same corn has won many premiums
at u County Fairs. / do not believe
in changing corn every year, but do
believe in getting the very best and
try to keep it good and not change as
long as it is good. ! am of the opin-
ion that our low corn yields are often
caused from buying u seed corn
from a distance that is not acclimat-
ed, yet high bred and best Of quality.
If we would buy enough for our
breeding plot only, say enough to
plant one acre grow and select from
that two years, then plant main crop
from the best selection, ! believe there
is where our big yields will come
from, not in planting the whole crop
with foreign seed not yet acclimated
If ever so pure and fine. Here are q
few instances Of what high priced
seed corn has done for us: My broth
er, C. B. Wilkerson, west Of Santa Fe,
made a test Of said corn; also good
corn above the average. The high
bred corn made an average on eight
acres Of rs bushels per acre. Fifteen
acres Of the other grade Of corn, SIS
bushels per acre. Corn was weighed;
corn grew side by side; planted with
in two days Of each other, all things
being equal as far al we know. He
also bought $1,000 worth Of seed corn
last season from corn that cost $500
per fbushel two years ago. II made
SO bushels per acre weighed. He be-
lieves his gain is 5000 for his invest
ment of $1,000 over the average seed
corn. The first variety mentioned is
Boone County White; second, Reeds
Yellow Dent. We grow both variet-
les. One of my renters tells me he
furnished last spring eight bushels of
the above corn mentioned to a party,
who reports it made IL bushels more
than other corn planted by its side.
Eight bushels viii plant about fifty
acres and twelve bushels gained
makes 600 bushels, at so cents per
bushel means $500, or a gain Of 5000
per acre. For general planting l be-
lieve $3.50 to $500 per bushel enough
to pay for the best. | believe in buy
ing as close to home as | can. | have
not n bushel of seed corn for sale
and during the last six years | have
not selected a bushel Of seed corn to
sell, nor shown an ear. My men has
shown it. AS for being a scientific
farmer, my profession is a nursery
man. am on my farms only as |
have spare time. My past experience
give for believing l could afford TO
pay the price Of s14.OO per bushel for
said corn, and that only for breeding
plots. had to do lots Of persuading
TO get said corn at the price, as the
parties wanted It for their own plant
ing. They are professional show peo-
pie. One Of the parties has won owe
four thousand dollars in premiums
and is the same party | bought from
seven years ago, and the same var
lety. Kelly Wilkerson.
lamar Wafuus. n..A