Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-01-19
COPYRIGHT, 1918,
81 HARPER 4 BROTHERS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Hear the Corn Grow.

Il soil stirred lightly with hand
~ rake SO as to conserve the
moisture and applied 200 pounds OF nj
trate Of soda when the stalks were
two-thirds grown.
That gave the crop strong impetus.
and tassels began to show above the
dark green leaves. some Of which were
almost five inches across. 4 good
soaking rain fell. followed by a cloudy
day and days drizZle. That night
1t showered internationally, and Joe and
his father went down about dusk be-
tween showers. His father had told
him he heard something rustling about
In the corn. The idea Of cow or a
horse in there working havoc sent a
cold chill down Joe's back.
The two stopped at the fence and
listened In the dead stiffness.
There was a cautious rustlng, faint
but plain. 1t was q sort Of whispered
rustic that a person could sense more
than he could hear.
Hear that! That's it! Some O.
them pesky calves in there" excitedly
urged Mr.. Weston.
The sibilant rustic was heard again.
In fact. it never seemed to stop. Oc-
casionally there was a louder noise
Joe laughed.
That's the first time ever heard
corn grow he said.
Heard it grow? That's the first l
ever heard of that sort of foolishness,"
snOrted his father.
That's what l said-heard it grow
That noise Is just the unfolding Of the
leaves. The rain is furnishing plenty
Of moisture and the sap is rushing up,
and the leaves are simply opening fast
-tassels coming out, and all that"
IN believe mighty near anything my
son says about corn, but blame my cats
If l 60 that far as to say heard corn
grow" said Mr.. Weston, with much
distrust in his tone
All right, then. What makes that
rustling in there? asked Joe.
"Pesky calf-or-or jay birds roostin'
In It, or-or wind" he ran out Of con-
lectures.
You know it amt possible for calf
to be In there because we been all
round the fence; it's tight, and the gate
is locked. Now, cut out the calf" sug-
gested Joe.
well, how about jay birds or wind,
or varmints?" asked Mr. Weston hope
fully. He was determined that it
should not be unfolding corn leaves
that he heard.
Did you ever hear Of jay birds roost-
Ing in corn-honest, now?' insisted
Joe.
well, don't knows ever did"
"All right; jay birds and calves are
out OF the question. Do you feel any
breeze to rustic the cornY'
"N-no-b'lieve not" said Mr.. Weston.
He was being hemmed in and knew it,
Ihere never was calmer night-not
breath Of air stirring.
Nov the wind is out Of the question
too. Listen! Hear that?" They lis
tened again.
Sounds like the whisperin' in that
big seashell when you hold it to your
ear said Mr.. Weston.
Amt thing in the world except the
corn growing-leaves unfolding and
rubbing against one another as they
open-that makes that noise. So YOU
can say that you've heard corn grow.
even II you never saw it grow" SIG.
gested his son.
well, live an learn" his father re.
sponded.
Hope to goodness we won't have q
rain for about two or three weeks
said Joe. THAT corn is fine, and if we
have nice, quiet, dry spell and nc
Dig wind the pollen will fall plentiful
from the tassels to the silk, and the
ears Will be seeded plumb to the end
eood fertile grains. Wet weather Just
at tasseling time Is bad for corn T,
IS always better IL the weather is dry
and STILL"
I've heard old farmers say that. bu,
tney didn't know the reason" said Mr.
Weston.
III there's much wet weather O.
wind about tasseling time the pole,
from the tassels don't fall on the sill
evenly. That Is necessary to make ,
perfect grain. There's q strand OF sill
Tor each grain. Unless that strand get,
pollen on It, no grain. Rain and wine
wash the pollen away before it get
on oil the silk
That makes hubby corn?" inquired
his father. Joe nodded.
IT the weather had been ordered
especially for the corn it could no
nave been any finer. 1t was exactl,
three weeks until a gentle, slow raj,
fell one night
MY crops made; it's made! re
joiced Joe when he arose the mex
morning. GRAINS all formed; nov
plenty Of moisture to fill 'em out
crops made, tell you, and it's goin
to be whale Of crop, believe me!'
Looks like the season come JUS
right" observed his mother.
Couldn't be BETTER" admitted Joe.
His effort at seed selection was beal
Ing fruit. He had saved the seed fron
the stalks with the most ears on then
and In the crop coming on there wa
at least third Of the crop with tire
perfectly developed ears on each STALL
probably fifty stalks with four we
developed ears and half dozen whic
showed four good ears and a rudime1
tary ear which could in time be d.
veloped into perfect ear.
Joe went through and marked all til
five cared stalks with a red Gallo
string the fOnr on rod onoa xr,i+1, q hl,,