Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-14
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW NJ SOULE :

ducers that low yields of corn can
be largely prevented through the use
of better strains of seed. There is
hardly an acre Of corn in the state
that would not yield another bushel
if a full stand were obtained; in
other words, if there were no vacant
hills. What causes vacant hills?
Sometimes inefficiency in planting,
sometimes insects may destroy
stalk of corn here and there, but as
a rule it is entirely due to the failure
of the seed itself. In other words.
the grain before it was planted did
not contain a Viable, living germ,
therefore when committed to the soil
it failed to sprout and so there is a
vacancy at that particular spot. In
stead of gathering a good ear of
corn yielding a pound of seed next
autumn there will be weeds occupy
ing the space where vigorous corn
plant should have grown up and de-
veloped and reached the perfection
of maturity. If we multiply this by
100 hills, even l.: the case say of a
prolific type of corn, we see where
the yield of that particular acre
would be decreased by a bushel or
more.
On the other hand, if seed had been
selected that had an intensified
power of reproducing itself would
it not have been just as easy for
many of the stalks in that field to
have developed and matured at least
one good carp Would it not have
been possible for all of those stalks
to have borne and carried to full
fruition two perfect ears? In that
.1II - ork0 81
showing a decrease because of an
inferior stand due to bad Seed would
have shown an increase of any
where from one to five bushels of
grain per acre.
Seed, after all, is one of the most
important factors concerned in the
production of desirable and profit
able crop of corn. Why is it that we
give so little attention and consid-
Grafton to this important and fun
damental matter? Now is the time
to be thinking about this subject
because the date for planting corr
in some sections of the state is less
than 60 days away. Are you simply
going to plant some of the same old
kinds of corn that made you such a
disappointing yield last year? Are
you going to plant some more of
the general admixture of nothing at
all that you attempted to raise last
year and then found to your surprise
that you could not sell it satisfac-
torily? Are you going to allow lot
of drOneS to work IN your fields
this summer, or are you going to
make some effort to secure some
real honest -to-goodness, worthwhile
seed corn tn atWill produce worth
while results for you? 1t is up to
you now, Mr.. Landowner and Gull
tivator, as to the policy you will
pursue relative to this matter Do
not make the mistake of delaying or
putting off proposition which is so
vital to your interest and welfare.
Now is the time to act.
In this connection let us see what
constitutes good seed corn. First Of
al, it should be adapted to the
climatic conditions under which it
is to be grown. This is matter of
very grave Importance. There is a
tendency on the part Of many to be-
lieve that seed corn imported from
long distances will prove the most
satisfactory. Our observation leads
us to believe that this is mistake
Second, the variety of corn should
be adapted to the soil type on which
it is to be planted. Large-eared sorts
should never be grown on upland
soils. The converse of this propo-
sition is also equally true to the
effect that prolific types, especially
well adapted for growth on upland
soils should not be planted on bot
tom lands.
1t is self-evident that the plant
ing Of a high yielding variety is
best, calculated to increase the yield
per acre. A high yielding variety
should represent an intehsification Of
desirable qualities brought about
through the art of plant breeding.
1t is certain that large yields will
not be obtained from low-yielding