The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-05


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 ne
expense if followed. 1t will require
a little careful work and sharp watch
ing at a season of the year when the
farmer is not oyerburdened 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
immature; 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
it-test it. The high price of corn,
too, on account Of the war has near
~ exhausted the 1914 crop and this
source of supply then is not reliable.
Missing Hills, Weak Stalks.
There are about 500 kernels on the
average ear of corn. One poor seed
means 500 weak, moldy or dead kerr
nels. If these are planted it means
missing hills and weak stalks produc-
ing 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-ou merchants, our bank
ers, our builders, our workers-de-
ponds on the prosperity of the farmers
hereabouts. We ought to start seed
corn campaign. The county superin-
tendent of schools can reach the farm
ers through the rural schoolteaehers,
who in turn will see that the children
carry the message home. You bank
ers, merchants and implement dealers
who 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
would have to mobilize all its re-
sources in case OF, war.
You farmers must not use poor seed
this spring. 1t means too much to all
of US. Poor seed means not only
poor stand and 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 year
work more than a third of every day
on ground that produces nothing. Do
not depend for seed on the occasional
good ears selected during the husk-
ing period. The corn will be injured
by freezing before it is husked or be-
fore it has had tina to become dry
after husking.
Select the best ears, if you have
not already done so. and string them
on binder Irvine and hang up.
Do not store seed corn in barrels or
boxes. 1t will gather moisture" and
mold or freeze. Do not store over the
stable. Do not put immature or fresh
ly gathered seed corn in a warm room,
on the floor. or in piles. It will either
sprout, or mold, or both. 1t should be
hung up at once, and the windows
opened to allow the freest circulation
of air. Do not depend on the crib
for seed corn. a. tt
One day devoted to the seed corn,
ct the proper time, may be worth
more than an entire month of hard
work next summer put on poor stand
of corn
The attic is good place to hang up
the seed corn. There should be a cir
culation of air through the room A
space three by eight feet will hold 200
strings of corn, twelve to fifteen ears
to each string. or about enough to
plant 200 acres. Three-fourths of this
.ar-@-e-sa44 r-rEaA