264 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



FACTS AND FIGURES. 



If, then, with pure-bred seed the yield can be increased five bushels, 

 or even one bushel, per acre, which 'one of these men, think y<ou, will 

 most certainly be rewarded for his diligence in business? Ah, yes, per- 

 haps you say,, how easy it is to figure these increased yields and profits! 

 But are the facts fully in accord with these very interesting figures? Let 

 us see. Will we accept unimpeached the testimony of scores of our 

 business-like, practicable corn-growers? There can be no more trust- 

 worthy authority. Within recent years a large number of farmers have 

 profited by planting pure-bred seed corn. Their report of results are 

 interesting and to the point. 



One of these men, a renter, decided to plant his own unimproved 

 seed corn, for he believed that he could not afford to purchase pure-bred 

 seed altough he had unbounded confidence in the prepotency and value 

 seed corn, for he believed tnat he could not afford to purchase pure-bred 

 seed to plant half of the land, and thus the improved and the unim- 

 proved were grown side by side in the same field, and the cultivation 

 and soil conditions were practically identical. The results, as given to 

 me are not surprising but fully in keeping with those which We may 

 reasonably expect when these conditions exist. 



The number of barren stalks was 50 per cent less in the well-bred 

 corn and the yield at least six bushels per acre more. But the profit in this; 

 case will not end with the cash larger income from this one crop. Enough 

 well-bred, prepotent seed was secured to plant the entire acreage chis 

 year and thus the profits from that first small outlay for seed corn will 

 be materially augmented by the increased yields from succeeding crops. 



Another farmer planted eighty acres with Boone County White. 

 The yield from this field was, nearly twenty bushels per acre more than 

 that from any other field on the farm. The seed from these eighty acres 

 cost $25 and the farmer figures that the net profit from the investment 

 amounted to the handsome sum of $600. No comment is necessary. 



CORN-BREEDING IS FOR EVERYBODY. 



Pure-bred seed corn will increase the yield per acre. The important 

 point for our consideration is the fact that corn breeding is not for the 

 few. This work, which must prove of unbounded value to corn producers, 

 is not hedged about by impassable barriers. Far from it. On the con- 

 trary the system of breeding is so simple and practicable, and, withal, 

 so scientific and profitable that it cannot fail to appeal strongly to every 

 thoughtful corn-grower who is intent on maintaining a leading position in 

 corn production. 



HOW TO BREED CORN. 



The system of breeding is as follows: Buy pure seed, in the ear, of 

 the variety selected for improvement, from a reliable breeder. This plan 

 insures seed of the best type and gratest prepotency and enables the 

 grower to start at the point which it has taken the breeders many years 

 to reach. Examine the bushel or more of corn very' carefully and select 



