Milford chronicle., 1916-10-27
COUNTY AGENT NOTES.

Two acres Of corn that are competing
for prizes in the contest directed by the
State Board Of Agriculture were visited
recently and the yields weighed. Yields
will be reported to the public in due time
by the State Board. There is a signih-
cant point in each Of these acres. how
ever, that is worth noticing. Charles
Charles Raven, living In the Gumboro
section win have a yield on his acre that
has seldom been excelled in his locality.
1t is no uncommon experience to hear 1t
said by present residents Of the black
soil country that fine yields Of corn used
to be grown on these soils. Authentic
cases Of high yields in recent years are
hard to find. At the same time there |
are thousands Of acres OF land that is /
best fitted for corn production. Mr.. |
Ravell did nothing to his prize acre that |
anyone could not afford to do, and yet he
secured a yield many baskets in ad-
vance Of the average OF his section.
There is good evidence that there will
be several contestants in the vicinity
next year, and that corn growing prac-
tice may undergo some changes as a re-
suit.
John Ponder's acre at Milton is signif-
cant. not only because Of a good yield,
but because Of the improvement in the
type Of the corn. Mr.. Ponder won
silver medal last year for a good acre
Of seed corn, but the quality this year
is even better. While there were
number Of hinty ears and ears with
smooth. shallow kernels, these types !
have been largely eliminated, chiefly by :.
the deep-kerneled ears only.
One years selection in this case has .
made a very noticeable improvement.
A new contest In corn growing is
being planned for next year. In this
,ase it will be a contest not only between q,
different acres on different farms but be- :
-ween different types Of corn on the .
iame farms. In other words. varieties =
md types Of corn are to be tested for .
'ield under conditions that are best suit :.
ID to them. If half dozen types Of corn :,
'est fitted for growing on black land :,
an be found. these will all be tried out D
ide by side on the same land, so that n
hose who enter the contest may know, p,
nd their neighbors may know. just what
5 the actual value Of these strains. Sim
arly strains adapted to sandy land, to @,
etter land. to late planting, etc. will III
e tried out. It will be yielding power h,
nd not appearance Of the ears or kerr a.
els that will count, and thus this contest
somewhat like the egg laying and COW .,
ontests that are now common, and in n,
'hich utility is placed above appear .,
nee. 1t is believed that this contest
ill have high practical value to those 20
no have developed special types Of corn N
s the publicity accorded the contest will nj
lable them to sell seed corn to advan- is
lge. Those who ever tried to buy any
sgs laid by Lady Byzantine know that ~
lie price was high, largely because this !,
en- was known as a high producer Corn No
-owers who enter some Of their seed
this contest have reason to expect the N
me result. because their corn will have p,
ade definite record on certain kinds III
soil, and the results will be on hand 81
r anyone to see.
W. C. PELTON, co
County Agr. Agent, la,
Georgetown, Del. wi