362 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ing 100 bushels of corn to the acre, and we ought to be satisfied 

 with that result. There is no reason why we should not be grow- 

 ing that number of bushels to the acre. 



Barren Stalks — I don't know whether or not you have been 

 conducting any experiments in regard to barren stalks in the field. 

 In our state we have 15 to 20 per cent of barren stalks. Now I am 

 not going to say that you have that many (probably not) but I 

 will say that if you have not made an investigation and made an 

 actual count you will be surprised when you go through your field 

 and select out 100 ears, taking them as they come, and counting the 

 barren stalks. 



Cultivation — After we have the corn planted we like to begin 

 cultivation at once. The condition of the soil, the kind of soil, 

 depends on cultivation. Should a soil be loose and open I think a 

 weeder a very useful tool, or a small spike toothed harrow, but if 

 the soil is tight this implement will do no good. 



If we use the weeder or the spike-toothed harrow it is 

 necessary to use it early. My experience has been that we cannot 

 use this tool after the corn is coming through the ground, or ap- 

 proaching the top of the ground. That is a stage when it is easily 

 broken off. We can use the weeder to good advantage after the 

 corn is up two or three inches. You might think that we would 

 tear it all up, but we don't break off as many stalks as would be 

 supposed. Then we like to follow cross-cultivation, deep at the 

 start, and as the plant grows we like to get shallow. We are able 

 in this way to keep our corn rather clean. 



Seed Proposition — I have been trying to improve my corn by 

 breeding and selection. If there is anything to be gained by the 

 improvement of corn I like to get the benefit of it, and I have been 

 carrying on plot breeding work. The theory is all right, it looks 

 practical, and I have gotten good results, but I am compelled to 

 believe by my actual experience that I am getting better results by 

 selection. Of course the breeding plot work is carried on on rather 

 a small scale, and we don't have the chance of selecting from a 

 number of acres the better ears of corn. I don't make it a rule to 

 get my seed corn until wg are harvesting our main crop and I am 

 not what you would call a large farmer. In fact, we don't haye 

 the large farmers that you have here. Before the Chicago show 

 my man found an ear of corn and recognized that he had a good 

 one, and it was the ear of corn for which I paid $250. I think I 

 heard four or five hundred people say "That man Clore hasn't got 

 any sense, paying $250 for one ear of corn." I was representing 



