Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-04-14

pdHs ID Interested III lue SllIuul
encouragement and success of the
more diversified system of farming
is the fact that such a system will
not only maintain, but will greatly
increase the productive capacity of
the land; it will furnish more con-
tinuous demand for labor and divide
the available labor over a longer
period of time, and such a division
of labor would be more profitable
and satisfactory to both employer
and employe; it would necessitate
homes for more people on the land
and lead logically to an increase of
rural population, to more extensive
and intelligent methods of soil cult
walton, more careful selection of
seed, better livestock, better social
and business conditions.
There are great variety of rea-
sons why the corn crop is regarded
as most valuable factor in a sys-
tenn of diversified farming. 1t pro-
duces under average conditions, a
larger measure of feed per acre of
land and the labor involved than any
other crop grown. 1t can be sue
cessfully and profitably grown under
a wider range of climatic and soil
than any other crop. 1t
is in every sense a cultivated crop
and for this reason fits admirably in
any system of crop rotation.
Following the breaking up of a
grass, clover or alfalfa field, we'll
cultivated corn crop leaves the ground
in first class condition for any of the
small grains, such as wheat, oats or
barley.
Is Easily Adapted. -
The corn plant possesses the hap
by characteristic of adapting itself to
environment and conditions to a
greater degree than any other of our
economic plants, therefore it's area
of successful and profitable growth
has continuously extended and ex-
banded from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific. from the Gulf of Mexico clear
beyond the headwaters of the Mis-
sissippi, varying it's season of matur-
ity from 80 days in the extreme nor
thern sections to six months in the
lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf
states.
Whether North or South, East or
West, the profitableness of the crop
seems to be more largely controlled
by the farmer than is the case with
any other farm product, while there
are widely varying results found in
every section, such as yields running
from 10 bushels per acre up to over
100 bushels per acre. This differ
ence seems to be matter of seed Sc
lection, preparation of tho land, care
full planting and thorough Guilt
walton. The widely varying yields
seem to be due to these factors rather
than to either soil or climatic condi-
lions. In other words, the yield of
corn per acre depends upon the man.
ner in which the work is done rather
than whether the corn field be To-
Gated in the so-called corn belt, on
the hills of New England, the plains
of Texas. or the fertile tablelands of
the Pacific Northwest.
According to statistics gathered
from all sources. the farm value per
acre Of the crop is greatest in those
sections where artificial methods are
necessary to overcome natural OBJ
stacles found in soil and climatic
Farm Value Per Acre.
In the year 1911 the average farm
value per acre of the $4,000 acres of
corn grown in Oregon and Washing
ton is given at $23 per acre. that Of
Alabama and Mississippi at $3.50
per acre, that of Iowa and Missouri
at SIS per acre, that Of Minnesota at
SO per acre, that Of Illinois at
$3.50 per acre. that Of Virginia at
sic per acre. that Of Pennsylvania at
$28 per acre, that of Maine at sac
per acre, that of Connecticut at $40
per acre.
The average yield per acre in the
year 1911 for the nine states in the
North Atlantic group was AZ bushels
per acre.
In the eight South Atlantic states.
20 bushels per acre.
The five North Central states east
Of the Mississippi river, which in
cludes Indiana and Illinois, averaged
IS bushels per acre.
The seven North Central states
west of the Mississippi river, includ-
Ing Iowa and Kansas, averaged 90
bushels per acre. while Minnesota,
the most northern of this group. av-