THIRD ANNUAL MEETING 



OF THE 



Indiana Corn Growers' Association. 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT A. O. LOCKRIDGE. 



Gentlemen: The Indiana Corn Growers' Association meets this year 

 without having passed a prosperous season. The severe drouth which 

 prevailed all over the country has left us without much of a stimulus 

 in corn culture. Nevertheless, I liuow we shall have some very interest- 

 ing discussions today in the cultivation of this very important cereal. 

 I trust there will be no formality here, but that all will feel perfectly 

 free to join in the discussions. 



If you will cast your eye over the map of the world and learn the 

 countries most favorable for the culture of corn, you will be struck with 

 the comparatively limited area adapted to the growth of maize. The 

 wheat producing regions are far more numerous. In the United States 

 the most favored region for the cultivation of Indian maize is here in 

 the great Mississippi Valley. It is, therefore, something for congi-atula- 

 tion that your farms lie within the heart of this corn belt. 



With the innumerable uses to which corn is put its cultivation be- 

 comes of the first importance. We talk now about the breeding of coi"n 

 with the same meaning that a few years ago we began to talk about 

 the breeding of Short-horn and Hereford cattle. Expert corn breeders 

 have selected a good type of this cereal and upon it have built some 

 excellent standards. 



But we must not be content to rest upon our present status of suc- 

 cess. With our fine soil and its rich store of plant food thoroughly known, 

 we must press on to still gi-eater victories in the culture of corn. The 

 work of today in this Association will, I have no doubt, greatly conduce 

 to this important consummation. 



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