Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-16
UNEvRNNESS OF MATURITY
APPARENT IN MANY
CORN FIELDS OF, IOWA
Special to Times Republican.


Hampton, Oct. 1s.--When the Eldorn
correspondent of the Times Republican
sent the following special to his paper
he described corn crop conditions in
Franklin county and several other ad-
joining counties a. well as those of
his own. He said:
county were there so many uneven
stands Of corr--that Is, where the
cereal is not near tie same ;,esree OF
maturity. In many fields when the
product OF certain hills were dentiny
others Immediately adjoining were
hardly in the silK Just what caused
this condition is difficult to determine
but that it is true is evidenced by a
few moments conversation with any
farmer"
I have asked many Franklin county
farmers in regard TO this .uneveness"
In their corn fields and not one was
able to explain the situation satisfac-
torily. In these times corn growers
frequently plant two and occasionally
three varieties of seed. early. late amt
medium, but Of course in different
fields or 6. leas. IN different parts Of
the same field but this time the diff
ferences occur in different parts Of the
same row, yes, even in the same hill
There will be much sorting of corn
this fall during the husHing process
except in the case Of the man who ex.
poets to feed his crop to stock near
future marketing. In Franklin county
this includes a very large proportion
of farmers, thcl efore there is no great
amount OF concern felt over this pecul-
iarity in conditions
Ii would seem to be an act Of Wis
dom for the average farmer to save
an extra buslel or two OF seed corn
this fall. In this locality the seed for
the succeeding season Is generally
about all selected and stored at this
time OF year, but this year probably
not 25 per cert OF a necessary supply
has been secured as yet another SIT
uation for which satisfactory eSplana-
tions are scarce, altho Il is a fact that
these are unusually busy days on the
farms for help. here, always scarce, in
late years extremely so now owing TO
anyone is thinking Of farmer class
standing round in the yard these days
let him start out to do business with
them and at the end OF days ride
about the only recollection he will have
OF the kind will be of some one on a
load OF corn fodder or some other kind
OF farm product driving thru his yard
as fast as conditions would admit. II
there is a leisure class" anywhere in
these days It certainly Is not to be
found on the farms.
On one OF the many splendid farms
IN this part Of the state there lives a
young couple who have already made
good" in their chosen work. Few in
deed OF the younger farmers Of this
county appear to have brighter pros
poets for successful farmer and
line stock breeder OF today with plenty
OF years Of activity as a probable asset
Is fortunate man. There Is a child
In the family, boy or years old
The father is called for military duty,
his father IS trying 10 figure out some
way to keep the farm going" and his
mother trying to understand why the
There are other similar cases all thru
the country. lit was suggested that
exemption in this instance would DO
only a matter of justice TO which the
man most concerned replied: YES, but
II they want me I'm ready and willing
10 go when and where I'm needed" and
he left a very clear impression with
the visitor that he meant every word
he said
Do county farms ever pay out?"
The manager of the Franklin county
institution says his will this year. He
has been there twelve years and has
been employed for another season SO
he ought TO know it's financial con-
dition. He told why the farm is more
than self sustaining this season. He
has sold fourteen head of hogs that
brought sS7i. and there still remain
on the place 10 head OF the mortgage
!ifters. Three 5-moDths- old calves for
1850 a bull and two calves for 1928.
l, 900 bushels Of oats for $500. 1900
bushels o; corn for $4,000. etc, etc.
Why shouldn't place be self sus-
tanning under the circumstances. A
few years ago the state OF Iowa sent
a man TO show Manager Hickman how
TO spray the eighty apple trees on the
farm and since that time he has done
the work himself. This year those trees
bore about 500 bushels Of fruit.
"Neighbors" came and in effect reduced
their taxes TO some extent by the free
apple process. Barrels and barrels OF
fruit are in the cellar for a rainy"
day and Monday morning was the date
chosen for the beginning Of the cider
making season at the institution for
hundred bushels of apples had been
gathered and piled on the ground ready
for the grind c. E. Wilson