American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-02-22

LII ah4 I Nv AAOAC AOhOA = hANG an
other ear on hit IN get twicet as much
corn?" Joe and Mr.. Somerville ex-
changed brief smiles.
why, Tom. you are getting TO be a
sort Of book farmer yourself
THAT amt no book farmin'. That's
just boss sense.
THAT is all book farming is, just the
latest inc newest and most reliable
common sense, only it is just more
common sense han most of us have
thought of. that's ALL"
What cotton have you selected, Mr..
Somerville? ?" asked Joe.
"A sort the government has tested
on ten experiment farms in this lati-
tude for the last four years. 1t aver
ages three weeks ahead of anything we
have, and the staple, or fiber, of the
cotton is over an inch long. 1t is said
to be a very heavy bearer also. 1t
ought to bring a fine price If kept free
Of dirt and trash and stain"
IAN right. sir. That's the kind we
want"
les order me enough of that, too,
SOS car plant three acres. will your
asked Tom Weston.
Glad to do it. Tom. The price is a
bit steep. though"
Don't care what the price is. II 1t
makes cotton like you say it does l can
well afford to buy 1t. and I'll sell the
seed myself next fall to folks around
here. 1t beats any cotton ever growed
around this country"
Very well. III order enough for
you. And. Joe. I've got a corn that
will make two ears to the stalk GER
tain, the grower says"
I'm going TO breed me a three and
four ear variety" said Joe.
You're a-goin' to do what?" inquired
his father sarcastically.
Breed a three and four ear variety"
Tom Weston laughed. Folks breed
cattle an SIGH. but | never heered moth
in of 'breedin' corn" he said.
How do you suppose this two ear
variety we are going to plant got start
ed. then, Tomf' inquired Mr.. Somer-
Vile.
"Why-why-er-it is-er-it's Jest
that sort of corn" he f~Oundered.
Certainly 1t is. but why did it hap
pen to be that sort?"
well. I'm blamed if | know. to tell
the truth about it."
If you'd read some of Joe's books
you'd find out a lot of things you don't
know. Now tell your dad. Joe. how
you are going to breed a three ear
corn"
Joe was embarrassed but plunged
bravely in.
1T takes several years to do 1t.
daddy. Now. this seed corn we are get
ting is fixed at two ears to the stalk
we can depend on that much. If we
give it all the plant food it can take
some Of it is going to show three ears.
hut the third ears are not going to be
much more than nubbins."
well. don't see no advantage in
them nubbins."
Yes, sir: nubbins are good to feed
hogs on. But if we go through that
field and pick out the best stalks with
three ears on them and then pick the
most perfect ears from the lot and
plant the eed from them next year.
the nubbins will be bigger. and more of
them on an average. and maybe some
of the stalks will show-shOw'=
"Rudimentary ears" said Mr., Somer-
vile.
Thanks; | couldn't remember it. but
1t means just the beginning Of an ear
not developed. Then. if the best Of
those stalks is saved for seed. next year
the ~rudimentary ears will be larger"
Il begin to sort of catch on now
said Tom Weston.
Each yea the selected seed, the
best of the last years crop. will in time
produce a perfect third ear. and sew
eral years of this work will fix the
habit of the corn so that every stalk
can be depended on TO bring three ears.
Then a person can keep on"
We'll if that amt the plump limit"
mo, sir; not the limit. I'm going to
have a four ear corn before | quit
You reckon all that is really true2"
asked Tom Weston.
"Of course II is. Tom. II has been
proved too many times to doubt it. 1t
is just a question OF care and pa
tience.'
We'll well, well. Why. II Joe gets
mat AOAh W. ~ iUuI tuIS lie > got Il
pretty good thing. amt hep
Got a fortune. 1t would sell for s.
a bushel for seed"
"Whew!"
And a four ear corn ought to make
200 bushels to the acre without a bit
Of trouble. and 200 bushels at IS is
$1,000 an acre. isn't It. dad?" His ia
Their gaZed at him with unwOnted re-
spect.
Think I'll bOrry some OF them books
of yourn and do some readin' myself
said Tom. but | never had no chance
when ! was a chap, an readin' is pow
erful slow work fer me. I've done
mighty little OF it TOO"
You can't start any soOne Tom. 80
said the merchant.
That's right | just learned that
mupb