448 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



encourage the bojs and girls of the State to stay right on the farm, 

 and if we can do that, we will make better farmers, and better far- 

 mers' wives. 



CORN. 



By PROF. F. D. GARDNER, StaU College, Pa. 



Corn (Zea Mays) ^ was, unknown to the world prior to the discovery 

 of America by Columbus in 1492. It was then cultivated only by 

 a semi-civilized people, the aborigenes of the western hemisphere. 

 Its cultivation, though on a small scale and with such inter-tillage 

 as could be given by a crooked stick is known to have occurred from 

 Maine to Chili. Today this crop is known throughout the world, 

 is recognized as the King of America cereals and is used in more 

 than a hundred ways. Not only is it the great stock food for fatten- 

 ing all classes of animals for market, but it enters largely into the 

 diet of our people. Out of it is made alcohol, starch, glucose, whis- 

 key, malt liquors, oil, dextrim„cellulose, gluten meal and I might con- 

 tinue the enumeration through the long list, but why should I tax 

 your memory. Out of the husks is made mats and matresses, the 

 pith is used in the manufacture of explosives and for packing the 

 sides of war vessels and the stems are used for making paper. The 

 whole plant as stover or as ensilage is relished by all classes of live 

 stock. 



To increase the average yield of corn in the United States one 

 bushel per acre would add sixty millions of dollars to the pocket 

 books of our farmers. To increase the yield of corn in the state of 

 Pennsylvania by one bushel per acre would add to the income of the 

 farmers of the Keystone state one million and forty-four thousand 

 dollars this year. Can this be accomplished? We will all admit 

 that by better preparation of the land, better tillage and a little 

 more thought to our crop rotations that it can. 



And still the possibilities are not fully realized. At the present 

 price of corn ten kernels added to each ear produced in the United 

 States would add to the annual income of the farmers of our country 

 forty-five millions of dollars. The same number of kernels added to 

 each ear produced in the State of Pennsylvania would increase the 

 value of our corn crop by 780,000 dollars. Can we increase the num- 

 ber of kernels on the average car by ten? I am sure that you will 

 answer in the affirmative and I believe that you will agree with me 

 that it would be quite possible through careful selection and breed- 

 ing of our corn to add an additional ten kernels to each ear for 

 several years to come. 



What then are the possibilities of this King of the American 

 cereals, this plant, so plastic in the hands of man, that like wax it 

 can be shaped to suit his fancy and meet his needs. 



In judging corn, a thorough knowledge of the crop is essential, 

 together with a familiarity with the various characteristics that go 

 to make up ideal ears and kernels. Since the ideals of men vary, 

 it has been found helpful to design a score card for judging corn. 



