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THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
IMPROVING
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HBRT HOWIANP
NEW CURE FOR SWELL-HEAD
Let f,h Fowls Q6 by Themselves,
Separating From Other?, If It
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FARM
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By HORACE
4
T Is eiiroly an nmazlng fact that the
corn crop of tho states should av
orngo year after year only about 30
bushels to tho aero. Tho acreage
planted Is increased by millions from
year to. year. Vast areas of virgin
territory uro constantly being brought
under cultivation. It Is a mnttor of
record that many farmers ralso 100,
200, sonio tie high as 300 bushels to
the aero, yet the avorago for the on
tlrp crop 1b never Increased.
Is It likely that thoro Is anything
wrong with tho government figures?
I do not think so. There Is as much
caro given ns Is posslblo to Insure no
curacy, and I daresay that many
farmers, oven tf they ralso more than
30 bushols to tho ncro, will fool satis
fiod that tho figures aro correct from
liia knowlcdgo of what tho nvorage
yield Is in his district.
Tho farms aro tilled by a pretty
good typo of farmor, on tho whole,
"hard working, and fairly Intelligent.
Tho best that wo havo boon nblo to
produce of tho truo American, and for
tho moBt part tho best of tho sturdy
eons of tho soil from many forolgn
lands. Wo havo a national depart
ment of agriculture that haB boon tho
envy and tho copy of tho world, which
In in a oonso, a farmor'B university,
and tha aolo aim nnd purpoao of
which has boon and 1b, to mako hot
ter farntors. For a. gonoratlon or
more, it haB striven by study, experi
ment nnd prlntor'a Ink lavishly dls
nomlnatod, to educate tho farmor and
bring him to a hlghor lovol ns nn effi
cient tlllor of tho soil. Through tho
work of its many profosBora It lins
presumably told 'tho farmor muoh
about seeds, and soils, and methods
of cultivation, and of protection from
InBect poBts, an infinite vnrlety of do
tails about tho vital facts concerning
Ids business, yot tho result remnlnB
tho snmo, no far ns corn Is concerned,
year nftor year thirty bushclB to tho
aero,
In almost every stato In tho Union
thoro Ib now, and hns long been, an
agricultural oxporltnont station, work
ing In cooperation with tho fcdoral de
partment of agriculture nnd hand and
liand witli tho farmers of tho Btato to
oducnto him. The Btatlons aro
(ulppod with professors, and ex
ports, many of them of tho highest
nuthorlty in tho lnnd, vast tracts uro
under oxporltuontnl cultivation, thoy
liavo boon planning, working, testing
o11b and floods, nnd fortlllzorB, to aid
tho farmor in tho oxorclso of economy
and tho growing of better crops. Tho
not results of tholr lnbora they aro
constantly disseminating by means
of lectures, and correspondence, and
bulletins, free, for all who would avail
of bucIi yot tho not result after all
those years is nn avorago of 30 bush
clB to tho aero for corn
Tho agricultural collogos havq
sono ovon further than this. Thoy
liavo In many InBtancos not boon con
tent to work nnd tocturo nnd print
tho results of their lnbors for tho
benefit of progressive fnnnors, thoy
havo boon militant in tholr work,
havo Instituted campaigns of oduca
tlon by Bonding out boiiio of tho pro
fessors on special trains, right In tho
lioart of farming districts, and giving
tho farmer heart-to-heart talks, and
object lessons !n bettor farming
methods; tolling him about soils,
inothodB of cultivation, seed selec
tion, Inviting thorn freoly to ask
questions, to the end that hu may bo
come a more enthusiastic worker and
ralso bettor crops. Although this has
boon going on for years and beyond
question many have profited by it,
yet the average yield for corn the
pant year wm Just tho same 30
buuhola. ' " '
MorsYamrwm&Qf'coJttr
MARKLEY.
Is it posslblo that tho prosont typo
of farmer has reached tho limit of
hfs capacity to Improvo? It may bo
so, At any rato, besides all this there
Is nn agricultural press, of vast pro
portions throughout tho stateB, work
ing to cducnto tho furmors and koep
him posted on overythlng that may
bo of holp to him In his business.
Many farmers take sovernl such pub
lications. Then again, tho tools that
aro availnblo to tho farmor for his
work aro far Buporior to what they
havo been in tho 'past, and aro Im
proved ovory year. Is It posslblo that
tho farmor Is not ua a cIobb taking ad
vantngo of. tho best tools for his
work 7
What Is tho first thing to bo dono
In tho growing of better corn crops?
I think, In seed Bolcctlon. Thoro Is
nothing stnrtllng or original In tills,
I admit; it Ib tho doctrlno that hns
long boon pronched, but I would sim
ply add my testimony from tho ro
buUb of my oxperlmonts with the
hopo that It may lead othors to try
along tho same linos. Thoro ls-noth-lng
difficult about It, thoro is certain
ly nothing costly; it amounts to sim
ply a Ilttlo more thorough nnd intelli
gent heart Interest In one's labor. .
To socuro a corn that will yield ton
fold what ho haa boon nccustomod
to getting tho farmer must breed for
results. Ho has got to Improvo tho
corn In tho snmo way that ho would
ralso tho standard of his stock or hla
flocks. And onco ho has secured u
typo of corn that shows IncronBed
prdductIvono8D, ho must try to keep
It puro, nvold Inbreeding and main
tain Its stamina, with tho samo
wntchfulncBs and caro that all brood
ing domandB.
It dooB not roqulro a scientific edu
cation to grow moro nnd bettor corn,
or bettor crops of any kind. It doos
roqulro brains. Ono of tho first
thlngB to bo dono Is to got out of tho
sllp-Bhod ways of working. Corn, es
pecially, is'ono of tho most abused
crops of tho farm. Becntmo it will
grow and glvo somo returns with a
lot of negloct it gets it.
In no ono respect is tho avorngo
Tanner moro cnroloss than In his
cholco of Bcod, and this may be Bald
to bo tho prlmo OBsontlnt.- Tho farm
or Ib plowing, manuring, performing
all tho operations from planting tlmo
to harvost, year aftor year, and with
somo of those ho tnkos considerable
prldo; for lnstnnco, I know fnrmora
who aro porfect plowmen; thoy know
It nnd aro proud of tholr skill, but
thoso snmo fanners aro hldo-bound" In
nn old custom of throwing tholr corn
In tholr crib Juat ns It Is husked, and
wnon tnoy want seed In tho spring
time, they -go to tho crib and pick
out sutnclont likely ears from what
nro loft to meet tholr noods, middled
u go at Hint.
u is an onigma how a mnn enn bo
soskilled nB n workman In many ro
spoctP, nnd yot absolutely Inert to
ono of tho most vital phases of secur
ing perfection lit that work. It ncodB
no argument for It has boon demon
strated ovor and ovor ngaln thnt tho
breeding of plnntB catt ba followed
with as much certainty as to results,
ub tho brooding of nnlmnla, Thon
why not do It? The only added equip
mont which nlno out of ton roqulro
Is tho oxorclso of moro Jntolllgent caro
and proclBlon In somo of tho details,
It soeniB Btrango, but it la never
theless a fact, that most farmorB aro
awaro of what may bo dono in plant
breeding, and know tho general prln
ciploB, but they will not wako up to
n practlco of thom In tholr own in-terosts.-
If wo Uro to Incrcaso tho com yield
wo have got to got it in thd;' brood.
' ' IIP ill Wl HP MWi IF t f311- Sri R' H
g's sw I' .feaaKa mia -J
&5jgttRsn&iLmffl& m&kst
It is not In tho soil, or tho fertilizer,
or tho weather, nor In any other fac
tor, important though each may bo.
Tho flrBt ossontlal Is to breed up
corn for points with tho samo caro
given to nnlmnls or fowls. Type,
quality, stamina, productiveness, etc.,
must bo known, must bo sought for
nnd Improved with each season. It
is not enough to pick out perfect ears
or such ns may bo attractive nt harv
ost tlmo. It Is necessary that one
shall know tho plant that produced the
ear, and all the conditions of its
growth nnd environment.
There nro many mystorlcB to be
solved In this question of seed selec
tion with tho viow to breeding up a
moro productive typo of corn. My
own experiments In this direction will
indicato somo of tho difficulties to bo
mot with. In htiBklng tho corn in
tho fnll of 190S I enmo across Just
ono stalk containing two oars. It
wns tho first I had over mot with,
though upon inquiry I find that farm
ers do frequently come across such
two-eared stalka, though thoy never
pay any nttentlon to thom, but throw
thom In tho crib with tho othors.
It occurred to mo, howovor, that It
would bo well to plant from thosovtwo
onrs and endeavor to ralBo a two
oared typo. Ono enr was of good sizo
and tho other about two-thirds as big.
weighing them tho largo otic weighed
14 ouncos and tho small Wt ounces.
Tho largo ear was an nvorngo ear
such as ovory stalk corrlod. Thus
this particular plant gavo 9', ounceB
moro than any other plant. This gain
would menu nlmpst a ton moro to tho
aero If tho corn could bo bred to
ylold two cars, It would mean ovon
moro If tho two ears could bo mado to
attain a good size Instead of ono bo
lug largo and. ono small ns In this
case.
Tho corn was of a varioty called
yollow-fllnt, obtained originally oj n
near-by farmor. From thoso two ears
I selected C30 kernels, discarding tho
butts und tips. Tho fiold In which
this was planted was fall plowed nnd
dressed during tho winter with a
liberal application of n high quality
of stablo manuro, as I keop such in a
coment-bottomed pit.' Tho two-oarod
seed wns planted at ono end of tho
main corn Hold. It should, of courso,
have had a sopnrato plot, and It may
bo thnt tho tendency to revert to ono
ear wna duo In part to Its contiguity
to tho ordinary corn.
Tho G30 kernels made 210 hills.
Fourteen failed to como up, probably
being oaten by worms or tnlco. Tho
gormlnatlon showed very strong vital
ity. However, of tho G16 atnlkB, nil
from tho two-eared seed, only 13G
stnlka produced a double oar. About
ono-lltth.
Another interesting point, showing
clearly tho tendency to roverslon to
romoto ancestors, is found In tho fact
that whilo .tho two-seed oars woro of
12 rows about 75 por cent, of tho
ylold wbb of ono olght-rowod cobs.
Although thlB varioty of flint corn
will show frequent ears of 12nnd 14
rows, It may bo considered properly
an olght-rowcd typo of corn. TIiub
wo ceo that nftor throwing tho sport
of a two-enred atalk, thero Ib not
im&J? mjj& m Zilch rati,
sufficient stamina in all the seeds to
reproduce like tho paront. Tho corn
reverted not only to tho ono-eared but
to tho eight-rowed typo.
This is ono of tho mysteries that
will havo to bo solved, no doubt be
fore a hlghly-productlvo two-eared
typo of corn can bo raised with tho
qualities of tho parent bo fixed that
It can be relied .upon to maintain a
big average yield. It may bo duo to
a weakness of inbreeding.
Somo of tho oars weighed over a
pound each, making over two pounds
to tho stalk. If this could bo aver
aged for nn entire corn field il would
yield over ten tons to tho acre.
Sucn may soem an exaggeration or
an impossibility, but it so only in
comparison with what wb havo been
accustomed to. Even if by Judicious
selection of two-eared seed each
year still tho type could not bo fixed
bo as to produce oven yields of tho
maximum amount, yot if It gave an
increase of 20 per cent, as It did in
my experiment, the return would bo
n big ono for what is involved. It
does not imply added cost, In tho pro
duction, but only a greater caro and
Interest in one's work.
. Another thing to bo kept in mind
In breeding up a typo of corn for high
er productlvonesB Is that tlvp number
of kernels to the car and their size
has an lmportnnt hearing on tho yield
of grain.
A corn oxpert once figured out that
If tho productiveness of corn could
bo increased by only ono kernel to
oach enr, on tho ontiro crop it would
menn a gain of B0 -tons of grain!
Even though tho figures bo not abso
lute there Is no gainsaying that tho
increase of yield would bo a very big
nmount In tho aggregate. Tho point
Is mndo very clearly In the accom
panying photographs which allow
eight, ten and twelvo-rowod ears of
corn. Each oar was exactly tho samo
in weight, being 11 ounces each. Tho
elght-rowod oar gavo seven ounces of
grain, nnd hod a cob weighing fonr
ounces, tho ten-rowed oar weighed up
eight ounces of grain nnd had a
threo ounco cob. Tho twelve-rowed
oar gavo 8 ounces of grain. A dif
ference of an ounco and n half to tho
6ar"of actual grain Is an appreciablo
gain worth striving for. But thnt
does not menn that such is tho limit
of tho gain to bo obtained. It would
be quite within reason to obtain ten
fold that increase
Tho Chief requisite to substantial
progress in me growing or a moro
productlvo corn must bo tho Bklll and
Judgment of the worker. The first
cssontlnl Is no doubt seed selection,
but this does not morely moan tho
picking out of tho best looking cars
either nt hnrvost tlmo or in tho husk
ing. It Is necessary that the grower
Bhall watch tho corn from tho first
stttrt of tho seed and through tho
growing.
Vigor, productiveness and early
riponing Bhould bo noted, not merely
In tho mind, but In a book, and the
stalks should bo mnrked bo that thoy
can bo identified at any time. My
method Is to Bnlp out llttla bits of
tin; .punch a hole through them at
ono side and put a bit of thin wire
through and twist this loosely bout
tho stalk when marking it. On tho
tin I scratch a number with a eharp
awl; - Thero is not likely to occur
any accident that can destroy this
tag or erase tho figures.
can Be Done Conveniently.
(By r?Ul. E. M. STETSON. Callrornla,)
There la a practlco among poultry
people to. catch a fowl with swell
head vnl squeczo tho white matter
out, thfnking that this will relievo tho
bird of Its corruption and causo It to
got well.
This is entirely wrong. A sac or
covering surrounds this white matter,
kcoplng it from g$ng any further
than tho ono organ. When this sao
Is brokon, as it must necessarily bo
by tho breaking of its outside covering
In order to eject it from tho eye, the
contagion Is nllowod to go down tho
noso and spread to tho wholo head.
Tho bird is thon a hopeless case, for
thoro is no remedy now but tho nx.
Tho matter which will bo found in tho
blood of tho fowl Ib also of a very
contagious naturo nnd contact with
other organs will causo thom to take
on similar conditions of corruption and
decay.
If tho bird is kept in a warm placo.
and is fed on highly stimulating and
nutritious food the blood will finally
right itself, but it cannot do bo if
largely re-infected, or vaccinated with
tho vjrus of tho disease throughout
tho ontiro head. '
Tho proper way to do is not to
touch tho head, Just letting tho fowls
go by themselves; this is bettor than
tho squeezing treatment, but Boparato
thom if convenient from tho other
chickens and keep warm and feed nil
they will eat.
If te eyo la not pecked by tho otuer
chickens, as in fighting ovor food, or
the sue is not broken, thoro is no
special danger of tho other birds catch
ing tho disease, oven If they nro allow
ed to run together.
Wo spent several dollars for roup
medicine, worked incessantly, causing
ourselves and tho poor chickens un
told misery by trying tho squeczlng
out method, nnd always lost tho cases.
Now we lot them run and, save for a
blind eye, we seldom" over havo ono
die.
MACHINE FOR TESTING EGGS
Electric "Daylight" Tester Haa Inter.
cstlng Automatic Features Age
May Be Determined.
Testing eggs -outdoors or In a room
having ordinary light, whero eggs may
bo sorted and crated at tho samo
timo, is posslblo with tho machine
hero shown. Tho outfit is about threo
feet long, with a roller at oach end
over which an endless canvas belt
moves. About six Inches apart on
this bolt aro small motal saucers, each
of which holds an ogg, saya tho Popu
lar Electricity. Centrally located
above tho belt is an electric lamp, re
ceiving current from a regular light
ing circuit, or from 24 dry batteries,
and ovor tho lamp is placed a liood
having an opening In tho top.
Tho bolt is run by turning a crank,
and tho electric Tamp automatically
lights when an egg passes over it re
vealing tho condition of tho egg to
An Electrlo "Daylight" Egg Teste
Having Interesting Automatic Fea
tures. tho person, looking into tho hood. An
other Interesting feature of the ma
chine is tho automatic turning of tho
egg upon tho belt, tint a enabling tho
tester to examine it on all uldea. Tho
age may bo determined by tho way
tho egg baa settled in tho shell. A
perfectly fresh egg shows a dean,
deop orange color, whilo a bad ono ia
almost black.
'As tho eggs pass undor the hood,
the good ones aro loft to roll oat on n
canvas extension table, whlla tho bad
ones aro removed by hand.
Keep Selecting the Best Hens.
Constant aolectlon is tho only way
to got your flock up to whero you
want it. When you see a good bird,
look carefully and noto well her char
acterlatlca. Put her In a brooding pen
and use her as a brooder anothor
year. Do this throughout the sum
mor and when fnll comes you will
havo mado your Belectlon of tho beat
birds and a breeding pen of tho bost
you have.
Build Up Utility.
Thero Is only ono way to build up
tho utility of a flock and that is by
cnreful Belectlon. If each year wo
aavo only tho eggB from the vory bost
layors for hatching purposos, each gen
oration will become better layers.
This work can bo greatly assisted by
obtaining males from a heavy laying
strain.
Tainted Food Dangerous.
Letting tho birds get at Uintod food,
is dangerous business this tlmo ot
year.
vUrT """"""'
If from tho averago rian you wish to
win respect or admiration,
Thero la a way that never fails, no mat
ter what your occupation;
You may engage In deals that look a
trifle shady or suspicious;
You may get on by hook or crook and -cling
to habits that aro vicious,
But you may cause" tlio average man to '
humbly pay you his addresses
By having Just a little moro than ho
possesses.
You may not have tho tasto that spells,
experience and education;
It may be that you havo not gained a
very lofty Btatton;
You may havo Ilttlo gracfe or wit and
claim tho coarsest boor's ambition;
You may be totally unfit for any promi
nent position.
But by your neighbor you xan bo ap-
plaudcd, envied and admired,
If you have Just a Uttlo ftioro than ho's
acquired.
If Brown has more than Foster, Brown
stands high In Foster's estimation,
And Foster, though his merit shines,
from Brown gets small considera
tion; For men have but ono standard which
thoy use in measuring each other;
He who has managed to got rich Is Btlll,
awed by his richer brothor;
So If you wish to be esteemed put all,
.things else aside and labor ,
To be a little richer than your richest
neighbor.
His Experience Under Fire.
"Oh, Mrs. BraBsbraid," exclaimed
tho beautiful girl, "how proud you
must bo to think that you aro mar
ried to a hero. I havo Just been talk
ing to your husband."
"Havo you?" replied tho wlfo of tho
bespangled member of the governor's
staff. "I noticed that you and ho re
mnined in that corner behind tho
palms a long time."
"How bravo ho must bo. Ho told
mo that ho had actually been .under
fire."
"Yes, It was when tho people in.
tho flat abovo ours were burned out.
Ho slept peacefully and bravely away
until tho water began to come through
our celling."
Glorlouo Part.
"At last," explained the low come
dian, "I havo a part that Just suits
mo."
"Good," said tho first old lady. "You
aro tho only actor I ever knew who
wns thoroughly satisfied with his part.
What is it?"
"Oh, tho part isn't much, ns far as
that goes, but I'm supposed to bo" a,
burglar, and I break into a pantry and
eat a real meal at every performance."
A Born Leader.
"He's born to bo a leader," his parents
fondly said,
As proudly thoy beheld him upon his
downy bed;
"See how his forehead bulges," exclaimed
his doting dad,
"Ills Jaw la shaped exactly llko that Na
poleon had." '
"Ho's "born to bo a leader," they said,
with honest Joy
What time he bossed the household whilo
he was yet a boy; '
And they were right In thinking him sent
to havo command; ".
He hns become a leader he leads a vll-
lago band. '
His Hope.
"Ia this tho placo where you want
a boy?."
"Yes. Whero did you work last?'"
"My dear sir," ropllod ilttlo Ralph
Waldo from Boston, "I hope I havo not
worked last anywhere, as yet."
Diplomacy.
"She married tho president of one
of tho big trunk lines, I bollove."
"Yes. I B'poso sho did it bo sho
could havo hor extra trunks taken
without being compelled to pay for
excess baggage"
Cause of His Excitement.
"Why is that man making bo much
noiso, waiter? Has he gono suddenly
crazy?"
"Ho ordered cantaloupe, sir, and
tho piece ho got was fit to eat, sir."
Definition.
"Pa, what's a hypocrite?"
"A mau who pretendB that ho isn't
mad when his Wife arranges tho draw,
ers and putajils ehlrta where ho can't
find them." .., ',
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