o4 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of meat produced per acre was due to the different form in which the corn 

 plant was fed. This showing would indicate that it is possible to make 

 47.45 pounds more of meat from an acre of corn put in a silo than fed 

 out of the shock. In case of the silage fed steers 97.69 per cent of the 

 meat produced was beef, and 2.31 per cent pork. The shock corn fed 

 steers 84.22 per cent of the meat produced was beef and 15.78 per cent 

 pork. This would show that in case of hog cholera on the farm, beef 

 may be produced by the use of silage with but a small loss. That in the 

 use of shock corn the hog is a. most important factor, and that a loss of 

 nearly 16 per cent of the meat produced would accrue from its elimina- 

 tion. 



We understand that the experiment with these steers will be con- 

 tinued until both lots are finished for market. The result will be awaited 

 with a good deal of interest and should be of great value. 



In conclusion, I will say that I have found my silo one of the very 

 best investments on my farm, and I think the silo for the Iowa dairy 

 farmer — like the hand or farm separator — almost a necessity. For the 

 economical production of beef on the ordinary farm, where the steer is 

 grown from the calf, I believe it is to come into general use. 



THE IMPROVEMENT OF SEED CORN. 



P. G. Holden, Ames, Iowa. 



The season of 1902 was characterized by two factors which made the 

 maturing of seed corn a very difficult problem. A wet season followed 

 by an early frost, rendered much of the corn soft and unfit for planting. 

 Probably never before in the great Central West has the farmer so often 

 asked himself "what shall I do to obtain good seed corn?" 



IMPORTANCE OF USING HOME-GBOWN SEED. 



No doubt it will be necessary for many to secure corn for planting 

 other than that which was grown on their own farms. And in this con- 

 nection great care should be exercised. 



Remembering that plants are very susceptible to their environments 

 we cannot fail to recognize the damage of importing seed for the entire 

 crop. If corn is imported from the southern part of the corn belt whero 

 a long season is shorter there is a tendency for the corn to produce a large 

 growth of stalks and to partially or wholly fail to mature. The same 

 danger exists in changing seed corn from east to west although not to 

 so great a degree. 



With land at present prices the corn grower throughout the central 

 west cannot afford to incur such risk. The farmers should plant the 

 major portion of their corn land with seed grown on their own farms or 

 at least in their own locality, so that reliable returns will be insured. 



It is well known that most of the seed corn put on the market by 

 seedsmen was bought of farmers in crib lots, shelled, screened and sacked 

 for sale, little or no attention being paid to the selection, in fact it is gen- 



