The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-04
CORN CONTEST
FOR CORN MPROVEMENT-BEN-
EETTS THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY.

Officers of the First National and
Security State banks are for the first
time in Madison giving competitive
recognition of the corn crop of the
county. This move Is in line with
the practice in other agricultural
communities. and has proven a great
incentive toward both the production
of larger crop to the acre of corn,
velopment of a strain of seed partic-
adapted to the region. And
there is no doubt but it will prove
to be of equal double value for Lake
county.
Just as a matter of proving that
the prize offering for the best corn
is conducive of great benefit to the
county: 1t is recognized that bank
ers know their business, 1t is known
that they do not make many moves
whereby they lose money. They
usually make a success of what they
undertake, and their investments
pay. Their investments pay because
they see hat their community is pros
pering. Like any other business,
their success depends wholly on the
success of the community. If they
car contribute to the success of the
community, their prosperity is made
greater thereby. Now, when bankers
undertake to offer prizes for good
crops, they foresee their own better
ment. And IT, they are to be bene-
fitted the growers will be also bene-
fited-and consequently il the grow
er will be benefited he can well af-
, ford to contribute to the success of
the corn contest.
There are 500 offered in cash
$25 to $40. They give 81 for every
bushel entered in the contest. Prof.
l.. G.. Atherton, a recognized author
ity on agriculture and its products.
with two others whom he will choose.
will adjudge the awards. Each bush
ell will be numbered. and the number
recorded with the contestants name
and filed away until the results are
to be announced. Thus the judges
will not know whose corn they are
passing on. and the judgment will be
absolutely fair.
A few years ago il was thought
that cor could not be grown as far
north as this state. Then ii became
something of an experiment. and
crops were raised some years, but the
acreage was small. For the past sew
eral years Ii is recognized that corn
can be raised here. and that il de-
ponds only on getting a seed aecli-
mated to this state and county to get
strains of corn which will mature
with certainty. BY constant planting
and cultivation this is well on the
way toward realization, and for sew
eral years past, Lake county has had
success enough in raising corn to en-
able her to furnish her own seed corn
every year, regardless of the severity
of the season. IL Is hoped that by
making Ii a matter of competition
and emulation Will still further de-
velop the early ripening qualities of
the county corn crop.
1t is to be hoped that this method
of inducing competition will be made
a yearly feature. In many counties
these contests are arranged the year
before. and the prizes given for the
best acre. BY this method the grow
err not only has a concrete example
before him of the benefit of special
cultivation for a better crop. but is
also developing the best possible acre
OF seed corn to further improve his
crops. There has been some men
ton made of such a move for Lake
county. and ii Is to be hoped hat ii
will be adopted as a yearly policy.