Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-15
Corr, From, Some Cribs
Sho,Ds Variation in
Ger1ninati0n Tests
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Belmond, Feb. 15.-"FIave you
noticed" said farmer the other day,
shat there are many disappointing
seed corn tests made with 1914 corn
taken from cribs. and that widely diff
ferent results are obtained by differ
emit men testing from the same crib
For instance, in several counties of
northern Iowa seed corn experts have
been employed to make tests of old
crib corn in their respective counties,
and these tests published so that
would-be purchasers might learn
where seed could be secured, what
would be expected of it in the way OF
terminating power, ETC., ETC. In many
cases men have invested in this corn,
taken it home, tested it and found
it utterly unfit for planting notwith-
standing the official higher test. Now,
this does not mean that the experts
test was faulty. It means that the
later corn was taken from the middle
of the crib. A driving storm of snow
or rain sends moisture far into the
ordinary crib Of corn. Then wheE
warm weather comes the outer por-
tons dry out and no damage is done
to the grain so far as terminating
power is concerned but the interior
portions remain wet longer and in con-
sequence start to sprout. Look at the
germs OF grains of this corn thru a
glass and you will see that unmistak-
able preparations have been made for
sprouting, enough to destroy the
value Of It for planting. This inside
corn is apt to be the best and brightest
looking grain in the crib too, but the
seed corn hunter should pass 1T up
and select ears from the outer edges
or the top of the crib. The inner
side Of double crib is the part which
will show good test if any Of it will"
Said the manager Of a lumber bust
ness in a Hancock county town, Had
it not been that a large amount or
building was done in this town last
season we would have not done hardly
any business at all. Early last spring
several farmers were planning big
corn cribs but after the prolonged
rains in June they came in and can
celled their orders. OF course there
were other building projects planned
and dropped that never came to my
ears. This has been one OF the worst
years on record for the lumber
dealer"
If a prize were to he awarded to the
most successful corn raiser of this
part of the country with last years
crop under consideration, Henry Olson
would be the winner and nobody dis
satisfied with the decision OF the Judge.
Nobody seems able to explain how it
was accomplished hut the well-fi filled
crib Of reasonably sound corn is there
as evidence and that ought to be suffi-
cient. The man who succeeded In
raising real corn while his neighbors.
many OF them first class farmers.
failed to do so said he planted about
the 10th of May. and plowed his corn
FIVE times, that's all he knows
about It.
It is the belief Of former school
teacher and now farmer Of this
county that the day is soon coming
when the services of some legislative
geniussMilL be required to devise "a
plan tos:Gake care " rural school ter
ritory not included in any consolidated
district. He cited instances where ir-
regular strips and bodies OF land are
left out so arranged that a permanent
school district composed of them
would be an impossibiltty and where
the inhabitants are already facing in
convenience and uncertainty in the
matter Of school privileges for their
children.
II read your story the other day
about Mr.. Van Duser and his return
to his old Illinois home" said Mr.. F.
L. Kercheval, Of Belmond, the other
day. Now look here" he continued.
as he brought out a large book en-
titled "A History Of Will County" and
pointed to a sentence which read.
George Jerome is married and lives
in Franklin county, iowa That Is the
G.. ]. Van Dslser you were telling about
and ne was a boyhood friend. I
helped him load his stock when he
moved to Iowa so many years ago,
and had lost track Of him completely
Then he told how in those early days
some restless adventurous spirit in
the already settled states Of Ohio, In
diana and Illinois would move on tic
Iowa and proceed to start a number
OF emigration movements westward
by the letter writing method or by
glowing oral accounts Of the new
country while on visit to the former
home.
Hero Il an example Of recent day
increase In Iowa land values. Less
than three years ago Mr.. !. II. Benson
bought q. forty" near Belmond pay
ing $150-per acre for it. He an
nounced his intention Of living on the