The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-28

poorest and most rolling two acres of sand land
on the farm. 1t grew rapidly, and by winter the
ground was so completely covered with Its foil
age that washing of the land was entirely pre-
vented. An examination of the roots showed them
set thick with nitrogen nodules. Early in the
spring. before any other grass or vegetation be-
gan to grow, the vetch plants were pushing out
their summer foliage, and by May l they were
four feet in length. About the first of June the
two acres were cut for hay.
Seeing that he had found n valuable plant for
the farm, Mr.. Smith planted % acres to vetch the
next year, the sowing being done on the poorest
and sandiest land of the farm. 1t was decided to
seed 81 acres Of this land to field corn and leave
the other for pasture. The vetch grew luxurt-
antly.
The spring of 1908 was very wet, and it was
May 1 before the ground was in condition to
break for corn. Delays were such that the 81
acres reserved for corn were not entirely broken
until May %. The vetch had grown to a height OF
five feet, and the mass of vegetation was so heavy
that 1t was almost impossible to turn under. A
half dozen makes of plows were tried with COM
plete failure, when finally success was obtained
with a double disk pillow, and the field was finished.
The prospect did not look inviting, for punches
of vetch showed here and there sticking out of
the ground. The field was worked down to fairly
good condition for planting by dragging and
rolling, and on June 8 and 4 was planted to yellow
corn.
Dire were the predictions made as to the out
NOhNs AAhhE c aiht tN h'NN AhA'f VI
vegetation would absorb all the moisture from the
ground and the corn would die. But Mr.. Smith
gritted his teeth, held his counsel and awaited
results. The corn came up a splendid stand. Dry
weather set In, which added no little discomfort
to the situation. The corn grew slowly, and as
soon as 1t was sufficiently large the cultivators
were set to work, and were worked with a little
difficulty on account of punches of vetch insult
~fciently plowed under catching on the c~ultivator
points.
The neighboring farmers came around, leaned
over the fence, and INDUCED in sarcastic remarks.
The gist of these remarks was that they had never
In all their experience seen so unprOmising a
prospect for corn as this field presented.
The weather was dry, and the corn grew five
or six inches, and made no further growth for
more than a week. At the end Of this time 1t
seemed to take on new life, and grew with such
rapidity that even Mr.. Smith was astounded.
When the corn reached waist height the pro-
phets who had predicted its early demise on ac-
count of the great mass of vetch turned under
tried another tack: "Wait until 1t begins to ear"
they said, land you will see 1t fire and wither up"
But the corn refused to side with these chronic
croakers, and grew up and up until it reached the
height Of eight to ten feet, silked, tasseled, and
bore its ears of golden corn.
It was subject to six weeks Of dry weather
after 1t had silked, and yet 1t had not fred and
every hill was bright and green. Across the road
O neighbor's corn fired clear above the ears of
the corn. and did not make more than 20 bushels
20 the acre. 1But Mr.. Smiths corn finally reached
its harvesting stage. sound and solid. 1t was