Mexico Missouri message., 1916-01-27

warning to heart, for this
section of the country lives and pros
pers largely on the production Of its
land, and follow the advice of agricul-
tural scientists who can tell our peo-
pie how to escape heavy loss. This
advice will work no hardship and no
expense If followed. 1t will require
a little careful work and sharp watch.
ing at season of the year when the
farmer is not overburdened with labor.
Nineteen fifteen was bad year for
corn. A cold, wet season retarded
the growth of the grain. The crop
in many parts of the corn belt was
MINIATURES; it contains an excessive
amount of water and is unfit for seed.
The scarcity of seed corn is really
the most serious in many years.
You farmers may say you are going
TO use seed from your 1914 crop. Don't
trust it. The grain may have been
damaged by the frost during the hard
freezes of last year. Don't trust
1t-test 1t. The high price of corn,
too, on account of the war has near
1y exhausted the 1914 crop and this
source Of supply then is not reliable.
Missing Hills, Weak Stalks.
There are about 800 kernels on the
average ear of corn. One poor seed
means 800 weak, moldy or dead ker-
nels. If these are planted 1t means
missing hills and weak stalks produc-
dng little or nothing. According to
reports Just received, every indication
points to very serious trouble with
seed corn, especially in sections lying
north of central Illinois and in North
Dakota. Wisconsin. Minnesota, Michi'
gan and Iowa,
This community ought to get busy
right now, for the prosperity of our
community-our merchants, our bank
ers, our builders, our workers-de-
pends on the prosperity Of the farmers
hersabouts. We ought to start seed
corn campaign. The county superin
tendent OF schools can reach the farm
ser& through the rural schoolteachers
who In turn will see that the children
CARRY the message home. You bank
GERS, merchants and implement dealers
Fwho trade directly with the farmers
ought to write personal letters urging
them to go into this matter scientific
ally. In short, all of us ought to mo
bilize our forces, just as our nation
1Mould have to mobilize all its re
sources In case Of war.
You farmers must not use poor seed
this spring. II means too much to al
OF US. Poor seed means not only
q poor stand and a portion OF the
field idle, but that you must cultivate
missing hills, one-stalk hills, and poor
worthless stalks, and receive nothing
In return.
Don't Work for Nothing.
Thousands OF people every yeal
work mora than a third Of every day
on ground that produces nothing. Dc
not depen d for seed on the occasional
good card selected during the husk
ing perioA. The corn will be injured
by freezing before it is husked or be
fore It las had time to become drJ
after huAking.
Select the best ears. II you have
not already done so. and string then
on bindt6r tWine ana hang up.
DO NIT store seed corn in barrels OF
boxes. 1t viii gather moisture" anC
mold & &r freeze. Do not store over the
stable. DO not put immature or fresh
1y gathered seed corn In a warm room
on thet floor, or in piles. It win either
sproutt. or mold, or both. It should h'
hung up at once. and the Window
ap7ehed to allow the freest circulation
of air. Do not depend on the Grill
for seed corn.
One day devoted to the seed corn
J at the proper time, may be wortl
more than an entire month OF hare
work next summer put on poor stand
OF corn
q The attic Is a good place 70 hang VI
the seed corn There should be a cir
culation Of air through the room.
euace three by eight feet win hold 20l
atrings Of corn, twelve TO fifteen ear
10 each string. or about enough 4
n,ant ZOO acres. Three-fourths Of thil