EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 293 



CORN IMPROVEMENT. 



J. A. JEFFERY. 



Special Bulletin No. 34. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



In 1904, Michigan grew V^ millions acres of corn, producing 37,000,000 

 bushels, worth $19,235,000.00. 



The average yield for that year was 28.6 bushels per acre. The aver- 

 age yield for the ten years, 1895 to 1904, was 32.13 bushels per care. 

 For the same period the average yield per acre, 



for Kansas was 21.65 bushels, 

 for Nebraska was 28.00 bushels, 

 for Iowa was 32.47 bushels, 

 for Missouri Avas 27.08 bushels. 



The average yield for the same period for the seven corn belt states 

 was 30.00 bushels per acre. 



Michigan uses practically all of her corn fodder, while most of the 

 belt states use comparatively little, and in some cases almost none of 

 the corn is cut for fodder or ensilage. This fact gives an added im- 

 portance to the corn crop with us. 



MICHIGAN CORN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. 



In March, 1904, The Michigan Corn Improvement Association was 

 organized. Its objects were "more and better corn for Michigan." It 

 planned to have a corn exhibition each year at the time and place of the 

 Round-up Farmers' Institute, with prizes offered for the best samples 

 of corn exhibited. At the last show over five hundred dollars in cash, 

 etc., were offered in prizes. 



In numbers and in enthusiasm the growth of the association has been 

 very marked. Its influence is manifested in the more intelligent selec- 

 tion of corn, and in the increased demands for information coming from 

 different parts of the State, by increased demand upon Supt. Taft for 

 institute work along corn lines, and by the local corn shows all over the 

 State in connection with Farmers' Institutes. 



