Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-30

Crop estimates have led the public
to believe that the corn crop produced
this year Is a record breaker. Farmers
had the same exalted ideas until they
began TO harvest. They then found
the greater part of the crop to be i'm
mature l am told this is general from
the northern limit of corn growing to
as far south as Memphis. Husking
was not started until a month later
than usual in order to give the ears
time to dry out. When the husking
was finally begun the corn heated as
soon as few bushels were piled up in
a crib. Many shelled and shipped what
they had husked, so as to prevent its
getting in worse condition. Husking
was stopped for couple of weeks,
with the hope that weather conditions
would be such as to dry the corn out
enough to crib. When husking start
ed again many of the ears were still
soft and wet. Sorting, ventilating,
stripping the husks while the ears
still hung on the stalks, hogging down,
pasturing with cattle and other means
for saving the crop We're resorted to.
Each method did some good but
none was Of general enough application
10 save considerable amount of the
entire crop. In this time Of greatest
need 1t appeared as If a large proper
ton Of our country's crop must be lost
and a great deal more deteriorated in
feeding value.
While studying any possible means
to overcome this dilemma my attention
was called to salt having been used
with highly satisfactory results. On
careful personal investigation I found
that salt applied at the rate OF about
one barrel to a thousand bushels OF
corn would prevent all heating and
turning black Some loose mold may
grow on some OF the wettest ears. but
this does no serious harm. The salt
IS applied by leveling OF the load OF
corn Immediately after putting it into
the crib, then sprinkling on a Few
quarts of salt The moisture dissolves
it and by plasmolysis the stronger So
luton on the outside OF the grains
fully weighing good dry shelled corn,
draws the moisture from the inside OF
them.
Many university botany classes
have made the experiment OF care
putting 1t into alcohol FOR a time, and
finding on weighing it again that inc
corn was lighter than when put into
the alcohol. The loss IN weight being
caused by the alcohol drawing rnois-
ture from apparently dry corn. An
other experiment they have often
made is to soak seeds, such as pump
kin seeds, peas. beans, etc. in water.
weigh them. then put them into salty
water. On weighing again the seeds
are found to be lighter than when put
into the salty water. But little practi-
cal use has been made Of this scientific
"A crib Of sailed corn appears as
though water had been poured over It
The better the ventilation provided
the quicker this moisture will evapor-
ate and the less mold will grow. Clean
husking is also an aid TO better VEN
tilation. The salted corn Will proba-
spring winds and, sunshine comes.
These take away all the excess mois-
ture so that corn may be kept to shell
a; any time desired. Ears which will
have almost no weight when dried out
should not be put into the crib. nor
should those which have begun TO
spoil in the field. The salt will not
make spoiled corn better, but when
applied TO corn already beginning to
heat Il viii stop the heating and pre-
vent the condition from becoming
worse. II applied early enough 1t vii!
prevent heat from starting.
This method is surely a God send
10 our nation in this time OF need for
food. and farmers are clamoring for
the government TO assist them in OBJ
salt Many seasons corn
husking Is almost finished by this time.
but this year in many localities 80
per cent Of the crop is still in the
field. Many stalks are breaking over.
so the danger from its being covered
by snow IS increasingly great"
Sells Old Corn at $3.50.
r J. Morgan and son. Wallace, OF