sh elements is small, they are just as necessary to the growth of corn as 

 le other elements mentioned, and if any one of them is lacking, it must 

 e supplied in some way. It should be remembered that nature's ele- 

 lents co-operate with each other in the right way if the supply is kept 

 p and scientific methods are observed by the farmer. The soil is a 

 onderfully complex factory, and the farmer is the manager of that 

 ictory. The manager should know his factory in detail, know what 

 ich crop requires and just how to furnish the requirements if he is to be 

 iccessful in turning out a first-class product at a profit. 



How to make the seed bed the home of the plant; how to store and 

 lake available soil water; how to secure nitrogen from the atmosphere; 

 le value of humus in making elements available; the necessity of good 

 ;ed ; how to collect and test seed ; how to cultivate the growing plant — 

 il are features of equal importance to the manager of the farm and 

 lould be thoroughly understood. 



The demand for corn is increasing very rapidly, due to the fact that 

 s value as a human food is being more highly regarded, and farmers are 

 eding it to live-stock more extensively and more scientifically. 



The market price of corn does not represent its true value to the 

 irmer. If the corn is fed to live-stock and the manure from the stock 



placed on the land, the farmer receives the full feeding value of the 

 )rn, which is much greater than the market value, and, in addition, he 

 (turns to the soil approximately eighty per cent of the fertility con- 

 imed by the plant in its growth. If he burns his cornstalks, he loses 

 1 of the nitrogen and organic matter contained in them. On the con- 

 ary, if he works them into the seed bed, all of the plant food is re- 

 irned to the soil, and, in addition, the fiber is placed in the soil, which is 

 lually as important and valuable as the elements, because it is finally 

 )nverted into humus. 



Climate 



While corn is grown in practically every state and territory excepting 

 laska, to some extent, the yield in various localities depends upon the 

 ngth of season, rainfall and temperature. Where the season is short 

 Bcause of latitude or elevation, late spring and early fall, frosts are apt 

 ) cut the crop short. By carefully selecting seed in sections where the 

 me between frosts is from 85 to 95 days, it is possible to make a very 

 ir crop. To illustrate: Secure seed from northern Iowa, select ears 

 'own low on the stalk, and plant in central South Dakota. Take seed 

 om there for southern North Dakota, gradually working north. It is 

 ways well to select ears low on the stalk, for they will produce corn a 

 eek or two earlier than ears high on the stalk. By carefully selecting 

 ■ed and using thorough methods in making a seed-bed and in culti- 

 ating, seed can be trained or acclimated to a remarkable degree in from 

 iree to five years. A few years ago it was thought impossible to grow 



