Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-29
FARMERS FACING
SHORTAGE IN SEED
Situation Becomes Serious In C0nse.
quence Of Freezing OF Corn in
November.
"USHEL PRICE MAY REACH SEQ
Conditions In Rock Island and Henry
Counties Cause Of WOrriment
Meeting Condition.
HUSHEL PRICE MAY REACH SEQ

Geneseo. Jan 29.-In order that
Henry county may raise 100 per cent
corn crop in 1918. the county COM
mittee on food. fuel and conservation.
acting under the state council of de-
tense and in connection with the
Henry County Farm bureau. will make
an ear test of seed corn sent in by any
farmer Of Henry county
In order TO have this work done.
the following suggestions have been
adopted: Every person may send in
to the county farm adviser at Cam
bridge ten ears of seed corn, or corn
which they believe to be good for
seed: this corn must reach the Office
in Cambridge not later than February
). The ten-ear sample of corn must
have the owners name and variety at
tached, also memoranda showing when
picked. whether the owner has any of
the same seed corn for sale and the
price. County Adviser j. r. Moltgom-
cry will test each sample and make
report al meeting of all the farmers
for the county, to be held at the court
house in Cambridge on Tuesday, Feb.
II. 1919.
The seed corn situation in this coun
iy is serious, as much of the corn
saved for seed was killed by the
freeze in November. large per cent of
corn at that time being in milk. The
termination in the corn that was far
Their advanced at the time of the heavy
freeze is very weak.
The farmers of this community have
been raising the large variety of corn,
which takes a late season in the fall
for it to get past the early frosts. The
smaller variety the last season ma
tured before the cold weather and it
is reported that many farmer who
has heretofore raised the large corn
will the coming spring plant the small
er kind
Seed corn at present is selling at
very high price. William Sand, auc-
toneer, of this city, at a. sale held
few days ago on the Oscar A. Johnson
farm, sold 50 bushels of tested seed
corn at 50 bushel The price at the
other sales all winter has been very
high and unless the government takes
the seed corn in hand and makes
fixed price, the renter OF farms in this
community, as well as elsewhere, will
he unable to pay the price, which no
doubt will reach close to the $40 ma k
before spring.
Prices High: Feed Soft Corn.
Hillsdale. Jan. 29-This years yield
of corn was considered abundant in
this vicinity, averaging so to 60 bush
els to the acre. but owing to early
frosts did not reach maturity, hence
he bulk Of it is soft, and only desir-
able for immediate feeding purposes.
In this immediate locality it is safe to
lay that nearly all farmers have fed
he bulk of the unmatured crop, but it
is reported in Whiteside county that
there is considerable of this corn
which will be Of little value, and cars
cannot be secured to ship. hence there
will be loss to the farmers
II cars could be secured to ship
stock, the large number of fatted hogs
now on hand could be shipped at
margin. AS it is, farmers are feeding
good corn. utilizing the supply of
ground feed on hand, and at a great
loss. 1t is considered that 60 per cent
of the corn crop was soft Where the
corn was planted eirly. on bluff land,
farmers have been able to select
enough seed corn for their own use
providing 1t has growing qualities.
There are few instances cited
where farmers have kiln-dried corn
One farmer is mentioned as having
90 to 500 bushels. which'is being test
ID al present by the Rock Island coun-
~ adviser, Mr.. Edgerton. 1t will be
week or so before any definite esti-
mate can be placed on amount of corn !
available for seed in this locality. The
present prices range from S. to $40. !
Al all events. there was enough corn
selected to supply this vicinity and
more, provided it has the proper germ
mating qualities but at present pros /
poets FOR seed corn of good quality are !
not considered very bright
Orion Fears Shortage. /
Orion. Jan. 29-Testing OF seed corn !
is in progress here. and the farther the (
tests proceed. the more serious the .
situation appears. In a canvass, taken !
before more than few of the farmers
had tested their corn. it was found .
that this township had a surplus of !
800 bushels. The results of tests make /
II seem probable that there will be |
quite shortage. Some who thought
they would have some seed TO sci! /
now find that they have barely enough
Tor themselves. One man who mad 80 |
bushels finds that 20 bushels OF it are
so poor that it will be useless 20 give
II the ear test The other 10 bushels
sho" very good termination. This is
me corn that was picked the earliest
The committee on food. fuel and
conservation has made a canvass of
Fenry county and finds that there is
phiy 20 per cent OF the required
amount Of seed corn in the county. or
ihis amount only 10 per cent had been
tested. The tests reported showed
from nothing 10 81 per cent germina-
lion. Frank 5. Haynes o. Geneseo.
chairman OF the committee. estimates
hat the county is short 1000 or 5000 I
bushels. rEere is hardly any 1916
corn in crio5 A few farmers have 30
" 100 bushels Of old corn on hand and
his will be examined thoroughly to
pENx - H..