FIELD CROPS 401 



voted to corn growing. The average production per acre has been 

 26 bushels. Very few farmers would like to acknowledge that their 

 average production for the past ten years has been as low as 26 

 bushels per acre, but from the best estimates that have been made 

 the conclusion is unavoidable that half of those who grow corn har- 

 vest less than 26 bushels per acre. Twice this quantity is a fair 

 crop, three times 26 bushels is a good crop, and four times 26 bush- 

 els per acre are frequently produced. 



Since the average crop in the States best adapted to corn grow- 

 ing is but little above the general average of the entire country, it 

 is evident that the average is not lowered to any great extent by the 

 poor crops in sections unsuited to corn growing. Moreover, the yield 

 per acre in the New England States, with their poor soil and short 

 growing season, is as great as in any other part of the country. This 

 clearly indicates the possibility of greatly increasing the yield per 

 acre in the corn belt. This is especially easy of accomplishment 

 in the Southern States, where the present production per acre is 

 low and where the growing season is not shortened by frosts. 



Poor corn crops are usually attributed to unfavorable weather 

 conditions, and frequently this is the true cause, for there are but 

 few summers during which this crop does not suffer more or less 

 at some stage in its growth. The most that can be done regarding 

 the weather is to take the best possible advantage of the conditions 

 as they exist. But there are other conditions that are responsible 

 for low production conditions that are directly under the control 

 of the farmer and it is these that make possible the doubling of the 

 average yield per acre within a few years. Although entirely pos- 

 sible, it is not expected that the near future will witness an average 

 production of 52 bushels for every acre grown. The failure to real- 

 ize this production will result from the failure of many growers to 

 improve their methods. That some growers in many different States 

 are year by year producing 50 and 75 bushels of corn per acre 

 proves the possibility. 



The lines of improvement that will most easily and quickly 

 double the present production per acre are as follows: (1) Improve- 

 ment in the quality of seed planted; (2) improvement in the condi- 

 tion of the soil; (3) improvement in methods of cultivation. 



Improvement in Quality of Seed Planted. Until a community 

 has its experienced and honest corn breeder, the best place for the 

 farmer to obtain seed corn is from fields on his farm or in his neigh- 

 borhood that were planted with a variety that has generally proved 

 most successful in that locality. 



Well-conducted corn breeding requires special methods that 

 general farmers have not time to apply. (See Corn Breeding.) If 

 there is in your locality a corn breeder who each year demonstrates 

 the superiority of his corn, you should pay him well for his superior 

 seed. Five dollars a bushel will be a profitable bargain for both 

 parties. Such corn breeders are improving corn as cattle breeders 

 have improved cattle. 



The general farmer is a propagator rather than a breeder of 



