SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII. 843 



Corn, which is the king of. our crops, last year anly averaged twenty- 

 eight bushels to the aero for the entire United States, and thirty-four 

 bushels for the state of Iowa. This looks low when we consider that two 

 small ears to the hill will make over forty bushels to the acres; and 

 a good ear on every stalk, in a field having a good stand, will make over 

 one hundred. In our test fields we can often select an acre that will 

 yield one hundred bushels. If we can raise this amount on one acre 

 we can raise the same on every other, providing we put the land in the 

 same condition and use the same methods in its production. I believe 

 it is possible by cultivation, by increasing the fertility of the soil, by the 

 use of clover, by rotation of crops, by drainage, to make every acre of 

 corn planted in our county yield one hundred bushels to the acre. 



Professor Holden and others are constantly telling us how to reach 

 this result, but they can only advise and instruct; we must apply their 

 ideas and do the thinking and the work. 



While we hear much about the improvement of corn, we hear little 

 about the improvement ox small grain, and yet, I know no branch ot 

 agriculture which has greater possibilities. 



The average yield of oats for the state last year was thirty-four 

 bushels to the acre; twenty-eight bushels for the United States, and 

 for the last ten years thirty -two bushels. "We cannot make our land pay 

 with this return, and we should not be satisfied when we can do better. 

 I believe it is possible for us to raise from sixty to one hundred bushels 

 to the acre, and this may not be its limit. The greatest loss and 

 drawback to this crop is caused by the sowing of seed of poor develop- 

 ment and low vitality. Save your seed with the same care as you 

 do with corn. See that it does not rot in tne shock, mould in the 

 granary or burn in the stack. If you cannot save the entire crop be sure 

 that you save enough for seed that is as clean and bright as it hangs 

 upon the straw when freshly ripened. But this is not enogh, as the best 

 contains much that is poorly developed. We should sow only the most 

 perfect of the entire crop. To simply clean the seed in the usual way 

 will not furnish the kind that we desire. We must screen and rescreen 

 and if necessary go over the entire crop until we are satisfied that we 

 have only the best developed of the previous year's crop. I have seen 

 the yield of oats increased forty per cent by this method. The crop will 

 require other care incident to good farming but I believe these suggestions 

 if followed will lead us a step nearer the realization of its possibilities. 



The average yield cf spring wheat for Iowa last year was thirteen 

 bushels to the acre and fourteen bushels for the United States. I believe 

 that this yield for Iowa may be greatly increased and it is among 

 the possibilities that Calhoun county may yet become one of the leading 

 spring wheat sections of the state. There may be much incredulity in 

 regard to raising winter wheat in our country, yet judging from what is 

 being done in other localities with the same climate and soil it is possible 

 that we may yet become a winter wheat producing county. Of this 

 crop Iowa raised last year twenty bushels to the acre. Only two states, 

 excepting the Pacific coast states, yielded more. At this high average we 



