4 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



manufacturing and mining state, her agriculture was not permit- 

 ted to sutfer. The thousands of men employed in her mines and 

 mills gave to the Pennsylvania farmer the best home market to be 

 found in any state of the Union. 



The geographical position of the State, its watercourses, its 

 transportation facilities and its relation, so far as location is con- 

 cerned, to other states give to it opportunities as an agricultural 

 state enjoyed by few. Because of these favorable circumstances, its 

 agriculture has been developing in the past and this development 

 is destined to continue. By intelligent cultivation, Pennsylvania 

 farms are increasing in fertility, the yield of crops produced is 

 growing larger, the homes of Pennsylvania farmers are being made ' 

 better and the condition of their inmates is being improved, 



CORN CULTURE IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



No better evidence of the fact that our farmers are seeking bet- 

 ter methods is needed, than is found in the advancement that has 

 been made in the production of cereal crops in the State, and es- 

 pecially of the corn crop. It has been my privilege on several oc- 

 casions to visit farms in the eastern part of the State whose own- 

 ers are noted for their success in corn culture. Some of the more 

 successful of these farmers claim that their crop yield has reached 

 120 bushels of shelled corn per acre. These farmers have learned 

 the importance of improving the varieties they grow by systematic 

 breeding as well as improved methods of cultivation, and their 

 growing crops when seen presented a singular contrast with the 

 crops of such of their neighbors as were content with old methods 

 and satisfied with a crop of less than one-half of that grown under 

 the improved conditions referred to. As already intimated this re- 

 markable success was not the work of a single 3'ear, but the result 

 of a series of years of close study and intelligent application. 



The same persons were securing like satisfactory results in the 

 cultivation of wheat, oats and potatoes. The careful selection of 

 seed, the introduction of new varieties, the study of climatic con- 

 ditions and influences, the adaptability of varieties to locality and 

 other matters of equal import were all duly considered and made 

 to contribute to the gratifying results. It is gratifying to note the 

 interest that is being taken particularly in the increase of corn pro- 

 duction in our State. A "corn show" gotten up by the publishers 

 of the ''National Stockman and Farmer" that was held at the State 

 Capitol in the month of January excited very great interest. The 

 exhibit was much larger than the most sanguine had reason to ex- 

 pect. An expert was present to judge the exhibits and award the 

 prizes, who closed his work with a lecture on the subject of corn 

 breeding and seed selection, using the exhibits as illustrations; 

 and the appreciation of the whole affair was demonstrated by the 

 lively bidding that was done when the prize winning corn was 

 sold at auction. 



In the cultivation of wheat, a few farmers are not content with 

 less than forty bushels per acre, while others are satisfied with 

 half that amount or even less. ^ 



Farmers are coming to understand that success does not always 

 depend upon the soil and that the best soil does not in every case 

 produce the best crop. While fertility is essential to success, there 



