162 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



viability. The recognition of the fact that by proper preservation 

 seed corn will retain its viability and productivity for three or four 

 years makes the planting of poor seed unnecessary. An extension of 

 the practice of always holding a two-years' supply of seed will facili- 

 tate the improvement and adaptation of high-yielding varieties and 

 prevent their extinction through destruction of the corn crop by 

 droughts or frosts. 



Corn production is found to be on the increase in localities sur- 

 rounding and quite remote from the principal centers of production. 

 In the Southeastern States, where both rainfall and heat are suffi- 

 cient, corn production is rapidly increasing. With sufficient heat 

 and rainfall assured, record yields are made by supplying ample 

 plant food. The change in the rate of planting from that which a 

 poor soil could support to that which abundant rainfall would permit, 

 combined with liberal applications of vegetable matter and fertiliz- 

 ing material, is producing wonderful increases in acre yields and total 

 production. 



EXPLOITATION OF DOUBTFUL NEW VARIETIES OF WHEAT. 



The late wheat shortage and high prices have caused unprecedented 

 interest in wheat and naturally accompanying attempts to exploit 

 so-called new strains without warrant of adaptation or demonstrated 

 yield or quality. By prompt communication with promoters and the 

 publication of warnings to the public, such exploitations usually 

 have been checked before serious harm was done. 



