The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-12-12

to the teachers Of the county for dis,
tribution in their respective districts
Four hundred and ten questionaires
were returned with but fifteen per.
sons indicating the need Of seed corn
Notices offering assistance in the Sc.
lection Of good seed corn were pub.
lished in all papers Of the county
with the exception Of the Princeton
Union, but no replies were received
| All this seemed to indicate that very
little seed corn shortage existed. AS
a matter of fact, the need for the
right kind Of seed corn was great
The losses in Mile Laos county due
| to the planting of seed corn of poor
quality and to the planting Of rank
growing fodder corn may be conser-
vatively estimated at $25,O00. Min
nesota No 13 is recommended as the
best variety for grain in the extreme
southern end Of the county and also
throughout the county for silage, with
home grown seed. Minnesota No. 23
or Northwestern Dent, with home
grown seed, has been recommended
for grain in the central and northern
sections: Sixteen persons were as
sisted in securing or locating seed
thirteen bushels being secured. Esti-
mates and data shows that So farm
ers tested their seed corn on the sug-
gestion of the County Agent or
through the Farm Bureau during
1918. The acreage of corn thus plant
ed may be given as 276.
Fall Seed Selection Project:
The County Agent first presented
the need of better seed and a greater
success in the raising Of corn at the
Annual Teachers Institute. The
teachers promised their cooperation.
Letters stating the need of organized
effort in the matter were sent to the
chairman of all school districts of
the county, requesting that they act
as committeeman to encourage seed
corn selection in their districts and
cooperate with their teachers, that
the teachers with the aid of the pu-
pills, would make out the reports.
Thirty mine districts out of the total
of fifty-tWo furnished definite reports
in regard to the number of bushels
saved, lists Of successful growers of
seed corn in the district, lists Of the
farmers desiring seed, lists Of farm
ers pledged to select or secure seed
during the next few days and the
number of silos built during the year.
These reports, figuring for fifty-two
districts instead Of thirty nine, show
ed that total of 1888 bushels had
been selected. Thirty-six growers
were listed, go persons were listed as
desiring seed, and sixty-two farmers
were pledged to select their seed with
in the next few days.
The work of selecting seed was de-
layed in the southern part Of the
county wherein most of the corn ma
tured as the farmers were very active
in marketing their potatoes and felt
that this was more important than
the selection Of seed corn. The fig
ures indicate that sufficient seed was
saved. The quota for the county had
been, set at 1888 bushels, based on an
acreage Of 1000, the program being
to select enough seed for two years.
Arrangements will be made to supply
the farmers desiring seed and test
such seed as has been saved during
the latter part of the winter.
GRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
When asked what varieties of the
different grains were best for Mile
Laos county conditions, the farmers
practically without exception agreed
that Marquis wheat was probably
the best, with Blue Stem as the sec
ond choice. The majority of thresh-
ermen approached on this subject
agreed readily. In the question Of
oats however, practically no varietal
knowledge was found, so it was felt
necessary to make investigation as to
this. Three varieties of oats repre-
senting three distinct types were
tried out on two farms in the county.
The seed was obtained from the State
Experiment Station and the results
seem to prove conclusively, taking
into consideration what one might ex-
pect in an average Of years, that the
Swedish Select type of oats, of which
Minnesota No. 281 is an excellent ex-
ample, is the best for Mile Laos coun-
ty conditions. Minnesota No. 261 Of
the Kherson oat type will not be rec
commended for the coming years.
Either Minnesota No. 281 or Mime
sofa No. 295 will be given preference
The seed taken from the plots, of
which there is about 80 bushels, will
be distributed in the county for use
for years to come.
The need for formalin treatment
for seed grain was urged at eleven
meetings, the majority being farmers
club meetings, where the attendance
totaled 900. In most cases the ques-
ton Of the treating of seed was en-
tirely new and the suggestions met
with very little enthusiasm. Just be-
fore harvest "a fields were visited
and careful investigation made as to
the amount Of smut present. Oats
were practically free from disease