CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION. 59 



Failure to properly assort the seed corn into two sizes, namely, 

 large and small. 



It is no extra trouble for me to shell an ear off into two pails instead 

 of one. I first butt and tip the seed ear then proceed to shell, and more 

 often a part of it shells as large seed and a part as small. The propor- 

 tion often ranges from one-third to two-thirds as the point of distinction. 

 Now there are two reasons for this. It sometimes occurs that we have 

 occasion to change planter plates as a consequence of the difference in 

 size of the seed, but there is a much more important reason. The larger 

 the grain in a hill the larger and stronger plant it will grow. The differ- 

 ence in the young plant is greater and continues to be more noticeable 

 as they grow older. On examination one will find that the larger plants 

 are robbing the smaller ones of sunlight and air above ground, and that 

 their roots are far outreaching them in the soil, and robbing them of 

 their fertility. They can never hope to catch up and thus is enacted one 

 of the most fruitful sources of nubbins. It is similar to feeding calves 

 and grown cattle together. Plant the seed graded as large, first, and 

 when that is gone plant that graded as small. The stalks in the hill 

 of either will run uniform in size and all will thrive well. 



Another error is in selecting long-jointed, top-heavy stalks with the 

 ear set too high, from which to save seed. Another is the selection of a 

 variety too dent and soft to mature soundly, but inclined to mold fast to 

 the husk and rot before drying. Another is to throw too great stress 

 on the importance of having the tip of cob entirely covered, resulting in 

 a concession on the p^irt of yielding capacity, and producing a corn of 

 short cob, one that shells out a handsome proportion of corn to ear, but 

 one that is a really light cropper. 



If anyone is of the opinion that each of the things mentioned do not 

 play an important part in corn production it would be worth their while 

 to visit a farm where those things are considered in the growing season. 

 After visiting such corn fields an old gentleman of perceptive ability and 

 discrimination once said to others, 'T tell you the county could well afford 

 to pay the owner of that farm a thousand dollars a year to go around 

 and tell the farmers how to raise corn." The remark was criticised as 

 the product of a fertile imagination by one who had a reputation for 

 annually raising the poorest corn in that locality, whereupon the old 

 man retorted, 'T mean it. I am not joking. The county could never 

 make another equally good investment." Thus it is that what one sees 

 another sees not. What one does another does not. 



0-c'cr Populated.— ^Some entertain fears lest the corn belt region 

 will soon become over populated. Many years ago the majority of the 



