580 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Beginning witli the year 1896 and going forward to 1905, inclusive, 

 tlie average yield of corn per acre in Iowa has been as follows: 39, 29, 

 35, 31, 38, 25, 32, 28, 32.6, 34.8, making an average of 32.44 bushels for 

 the past decade. There are in round numbers 3,400 hills on an acre 

 when we use a three-foot six-inch planter. Now, if we raise a single 

 stock of corn in every hill that will produce an ear weighing ten and 

 two-third ounces, we have the average yield for Iowa. If we grow two 

 stalks to the hill and each produces an ear that size, we will raise our 

 average from 321/2 to 65 bushels per acre. Again, with our two stalks, if 

 one produces an ear weighing ten and two-thirds ounces and the other a 

 little nubbin weighing five and one-half ounces, we have forty-nine bush- 

 els per acre; and this makes just one pound of corn for each hill. It 

 looks easy; why have we not succeeded in doing it? 



In the growing of a crop of corn the first essential is a good seed 

 bed. Too much stress can not be laid on this point. If the seed bed is 

 not thoroughly prepared a good stand equally distributed in the row or 

 hill is a practical impossibility. My own experience as well as obser- 

 vation leads me to believe that a uniform depth of four and one-half 

 inches for spring plowing and five and one-half for fall plowing gives, 

 better results than any shallower or deeper work. 



At the time of planting the disk if properly set will thoroughly pul- 

 verize either of the above plowings to the full depth of the furrow, slice 

 and compact the soil firmly at that point, thus cutting off evaporation of 

 moisture, so sorely needed later on. 



While not coming properly under the head of seed bed preparation,, 

 yet closely allied to it, a better place will not be found for introducing- 

 the cut-worm. After the farmer has done all he can in the way of se- 

 lecting and testing his seed-corn, there is no element that works to the 

 destruction of a stand like the cut-worm. And after all there is no 

 enemy of the corn crop so easily destroyed. If ten days or two weeks 

 before the corn is ready to plant the ground is thoroughly disked and 

 all vegetation killed, the cut-worm will starve to death before the corn> 

 is up. During the past season the spring was so wet I could not get on 

 the ground until it was time to plant corn, so I didn't wait to kill the 

 cut-worms. But I went back in about two weeks and planted that 

 field over again. 



A marked improvement in yield will come about in the way of seed 

 selection. There has been a noticeable stride forward during the past 

 two years, but the limit has not been reached. Indeed, the field has. 

 been scarcely touched. There is a wide difference of opinion as to what 

 constitutes a good seed ear. Many of us have that to learn and it will 

 be a long lesson before we get the problem solved. And right here one 

 branch of this problem diverges into a field wholly unexplored, but 

 which I believe to be pregnant with great results. If two ears of corn 

 of the same variety and looking as much alike as two ears ever do are 

 planted side by side, one often shows a yield of eighty to ninety bushels 

 per acre, while the other will yield but forty to fifty. No amount of 

 inspection would have told which ear was the better yielder. Nothing 

 but actual planting could have told. 



If the heavier yielding ear is put through the same test, year after 

 year, for a decade, great results in yield will certainly follow. 



