298 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



to produce 75 bushels per acre, or each ear reduced equally of 25 

 bushels. This we know we will not do in field practice. One good 

 ear in a hundred ; 99 nubbins. Who of our swine breeders would 

 tolerate such variation in size and litter? Still corn growers per- 

 mit this to go on from year to year. This condition is easily ex- 

 plained. We do not breed it so — we select it so. One outstanding 

 ear in a thousand. The box on the side of the wagon is the recep- 

 tacle for the choice ears for next year's seed stock. The male-pro- 

 ducing propensities in plant life is strong by profuse pollination, re- 

 ducing vitality of stalk to barrenness or nubbin production. In live 

 stock strength of male is "survival of the fittest." This is where, 

 by not allowing these worthless progenitors to run rampage through 

 so-called well-bred seed corn, we expect to "increase the yield," 

 "improve the quality." Yes, we have selected our com to its 

 standard, good and well; but let us eliminate nubbin producing 

 stalks by breeding. Our legislators are ever ready to aid the people 

 if they see cause. Can't we show them that Missouri corn and 

 prosperity go hand in hand ? Can't we show them that fine farms, 

 happy people, come from good crops? Can't we show them the 

 possibilities of a single corn hill multipled over the entire State? 

 Then let us up and doing. 



There is no reason why a pound of either protein carbohy- 

 drates or fats in corn will not bring as much as in oats, wheat or rye. 

 Therefore, it is a matter of only a very few years when an 80-bushel 

 corn crop will sell for the price at which the land is bringing today. 

 In section 4715, chapter 67 of the Revised Statutes, the Missouri 

 State law gives the county judges the right to donate $150 for the 

 advancement of agriculture. There has been no provision to utilize 

 these funds except through private gains in county fair corpora- 

 tions. Why not suggest to these judges, through the co-operation 

 of the Missouri Com Growers' Association, that this money be dis- 

 tributed over the county as a partial compensation for work done in 

 tabulating and bringing to notice these experiments in corn or other 

 crops. Surely, it would become a popular move with good results. 

 Three hundred years ago the first com talk was given by Powhattan 

 in Jamestown settlement, which must have gone unheeded. Star- 

 vation continually harrowed to death until the corn cribs were filled. 

 Longfellow's "Hiawatha" says: 



" All around the happy village 



Stoofl the maize field preen anrl shinhi?, 



Waved tlie fireeii plumes of Mondamin. 



Waved his soft and sunny Iresses, 



Killing all the land with plenty. , 



