The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-04-26
GROW A BIG CROP
WITH LESSL LABOR
Federal Specialists Make Sug-
gestions on Economizing With
Man Power.
INCREASE CORN PRODUCTION
Tractors and Larger Implements viii
Help Farmers-Machine Harvest
ers Rather Than Hand Cut
tiers Are Advisable.

Another big corn crop Is needed.
Last years planting of 120,0OO.OO
acres yielded the largest crop ever har-
vested-3, 159, 494 900 bushels. There
seems to be every reason to believe,
In the opinion of officials of the Unit
ed States department of agriculture,
that our own welfare and that of the
allies, as well as neutral nations, make
desirable an even greater production
Of corn in 1918 on an acreage approx
mately equal to that planted In 1917.
\ Increased production may be accom-
| plished in a number of ways, and In a
| recent publication Of the United States
department Of agriculture, "The Agri-
cultural Situation for 1918: Part VIII,
Corn" specialists of the department
make suggestions regarding better
methods. The more extensive use Of
labor-saving implements will make it
easier this year to approximate the
record-breaking acreage Of last year,
especially when employed In sections
but on a more limited scale than Is
desirable, because present methods
REQUIRE 4 large amount Of man labor.
The more general use Of recently
developed and improved tractors that
are adapted to the uses Of the small
farm as we'll as the large farm would
tend to increase the acreage and to
effect a saving in labor. The use Of
larger plows, harrows and other instru-
ments used in fitting the land would
make 1t possible to accomplish more
work per man. Similarly the substitu-
ton Of two-row planters and two-row
double cultivators in place Of smaller
and less efficient implements would
make It possible to do the same
amount of work with less expenditure
of labor.
Replant Missing Hills.
In some corn growing sections 1t is
the practice to replant missing hills as
soon as the corn is up to 4 stand.
Frequently this Is done by dropping
kernels by hand and covering with a
hoe. A labor-saving and quicker
method would be the use of small hand
planters. These could be used to ad-
vantage for the first planting also In |
sections where comparatively small |
areas are planted and where 1t Is At |
present the custom to drop the corn
sy hand and cover with the hoe.
II is the practice in some localities
to plant a much larger number OF
kernels than the number Of stalks
70 n fhA dagiyoA |
,tand when the corn plants are about
vix to eight inches tall. This method
nav be satisfactory where plenty of
abor is available, but where 1t Is de-
,irable to economic labor 1t would be
advisable to plant tested seed at about
he same rate as the stand desired and
10 no thinning.
4 more general use Of efficient har-
,~sdng machinery would permit a
more economical use Of labor. A corn
Under with an attachment for elevat-
M the bundles of corn into 4 wagon
hould be used much more extensively
han It il for harvesting ensilage corn.
here IL also on the market machine
hat converts the corn into ensilage
, the field, elevating 1t into wagon,
rom which it is sucked or lifted into |
he silo. The use of either of these
,achines, especially the latter. would I
o away with the necessity Of much {
lborious work. 1t
Work Done by Hand.
A large percentage of the cutting G
nd shocking Of corn is done by hand $
,hor. In some sections. because OF 0
topography or other
.asons. it is not practicable to use 5
= chIne cutters. However, the greater !!
art of the corn that is now cut BY 8
md lahos enu1d be harvested By II