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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1924)
:j:MARIQN LEADING CORK COUNTY OF OREGON and dry corn husked to feed ' out j and larger yields of both forage of the cribs wilUincrease our corn ' 111,(1 rain. The price of corn per ucreaiie and our stock production, ! bushel will be high until local pro ) hen this time comes aud brings 1,1,1 tio" take rare of ,he de" with it a more extended use oi the'; mand and the yearly importation crop for hogging off and for sil-, of 0ort cars is ,lonP away with, .'me. the state will see fewer (Since Maridn was the leading weeds, more clover, and cheaper 'corn county of Oregon back in 1920, and there has been a won derful growth of . the industry, here, every year since, which has :.lso extended to Polk, the writ er believes he is entirely correct in claiming that Marion county is the leading corn county not only in Oregon now, but also the lead ing corn county of the Pacific northwest, and that Polk county is a good second. And this growth will be as great thia year "a it: hits been in the past several, if there is not a still greater increase both of acreage and production per acre. Ed.) , ! i lias been Since 1920, with Polk County Probably Second; and Marion Now or Soon Will ... - tSe Leadinrr Corn Cmmtv in NJr-f kroof PIL- Qornrl ai:,4.j q.j tr. ! . i I TKa fAlUu ln.r K 1 ished to The Statesman by the farm crops department yol th? Oregon Agricultural college): The. last official figures given bV ttlA tlll'Mll flf lrnn o I .,... ' w 1 1 1 (I I 3 for the crop year 1020 show Mar ion county with 6675 acres and 213,600 bushels of corn and Lane county 'With 6563 acres and 190, 930 bushel to be the leading corn counties In Oregon. Of course for tho past season theso figures may bo greatly changed, but they are, changed for the better, because corn has won its way In the Wil lamette valley. The 1923 figures for Oregon show-71,000 acres pro duced 2,485.000 bushels, an in crease of 4 9,00 acres and 1,825, 000 bushels over the season of 1914, or an increase of more than 200 per cent. It is estimated that yearly 75 per cent of the corn grown in the state is used for sil age and fodder.- Has High. Farm Value Corn has a high farm value in Oregon. In 1922 the average price on the farm in Oregon was $1 cents a bushel, while the price in Iowa waar but 56 cents. For the year ending September, 1923, there were 1812 cars of corn in spected at Portland and Seattle. These cars, together with cars re reived at points where no inspec tion is made, make a total of more than 2000 cars shipped into the Pacific northwest in one year. Thfcrq is not much danger of over doing corn growing for the pres ent, at least. For the ten year period from 1913-1922 corn had the high acre value in Oregon of $36.65 an acre while winter wheat had an acre value of $28.22 and spring wheat $20.63. Can Stand Expansion Corn is the one cultivated crop that can stand much expansion in acreage, and a cultivated crop is of prime value in every section. Instead of one-third' to one-fifth of our western Oreeon acrpaere in cultivated crop, as would be the case if we were using good rota tions, our entire eiaie acreage ui all inter-tilled crops is only equal te a strip about, two and three fourths to three miles wide extend ing from Corvallis to Portland. This little strip is not enough to control weeds or provide the early fall grain seed beds which are so productive of small graim and which pave the way for good clo " ver stands. , Of course, it is true that corn growing requires .special, machin ery ana every corn grower snouia bo enuippotl with tho proper im plements puch as phintera and cul tivators to take care or the crop. Hut tho price of corn Is holding its own. and it always will as long as tho following facts hold true. llih Values in Vailed States Corn produces more food value per acre than any other crop. A 33 bushel crop givos nearly 130 pounds of protein and more than 3,000,000 units of energy. Corn, consumed directly and in the form of meat, dairy and poultry pro ducts, is the principal source of food of the American people. Corn has never been used as extensively for human food as wheat. However, millions of the poorer classes in Mexico. Italy, Argentina, Spain and the Balkan states oat far more corn than wheat. The value of corn In the agri culture of the United Rules is well known. In acreage, in mul tiplicity of uses, In production and in value, it exceeds any other cul tivated crop. In tho decade, 190S to 1917, the acreage devoted to corn in tttta country was 4.S per cent greater than the combined acreage f of the crops of wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice, buckwheat and flax. The value of the corn crop for the same period was 2 4.3 per cent more than the combined values-Of these crops. Cool Nights Xot Always Object ionable. It Is a common belief that corn will not grow satisfactorily in re gions where the niphts are cool, though the days be warm. Usual ly, the true explanation why corn is not grown in such sections is something else. In South Africa, where corn growing has expanded at a phenomenal rate since 1900. the minimum temperature at night during the tasseling season averages only about 60 degrees, and in some sections it is as low as 55 decrees. Cool nights reduce the rapidity of growth previous to tasseling, but if the season is long there is no definite proof that cool nights (53 to 60 .degrees at the low point of the night) reduce the yield. Many Varieties Corn. In its distribution over the United States, has been chang ed in many ways by nature and by the plant breeder and farmer. The corn crop has shown especial adaptability to differences in length of season. At the present time, there are at least 1000 var ieties, some of which mature in SO days in the north and others in 150 days or more in the south. Because of its wonderful adapta tion to conditions, the crop is now grown with success in every state of the nation, from sea level to plateaus a mile above. Minnesota U is a standard medium-early silage variety for western Oregon. It is leafy, pro duces a medium-sized stalk and a good ear. Golden Glow and some other "varieties locally selected for several years are excellent on the river bottom soils of the Willam ette valley. Kind of Seed to Use Ordinarily, it is a poor practice to buy seed corn. The average farmer should rely chiefly on seed grown in his own field or li i -neighbor's field until hq has prov ed by actual test in his own rieid that a certain s:ra:ii from outside has greater yielding power. Farmers have observed the su periority of well adapted varieties. This superiority is demonstrated when, good home grown sed is planted in comparison with seed imported from a distance. The value of home grown seed was shown in two series of five year tests conducted by the United States department of agriculture in cooperation with 2? state ex periment Ftatlons. Equivalent lots of seed were grown each year at all tho stations. These experi ments indicated that varieties which produce best at home often yield poorest when tested under another environment. Too many will send away for s"ed when better seed may be found at home than can be ob tained anywhere else. It Is al ways uncertain to buy seed from a distance, and this is doubly true when good seed is scarce. One is likely to pay much more than it would cost to separate out the good ears by means of the germin ation test. If seed com must be purchased, it should be obtained from a locality where soil and cli matic conditions are practically identical with those of the place where the corn is to be grown. The price of seed corn is not im portant. The cost or from two to five dollars a bushel, the average price of seed corn, is small as com pared to the loss of a large part of the crop. At 50 cents a bushel, the produce of a bushel of seed is worth $150. The loss of stand, Immaturity, etc., resulting from unadapted seed corn may actually cause a loss "Of $20 or $30 per bushel of Beed planted. Beautiful Rugs at low prices Here is a great collection of high grade Axminster Rugs. Anyone of them will enhance the beauty of your home. They are woven of materials that will withstand great wear, i They are superior values especially at this astonishing low price ONE BIG PILE 9x12 RUGS Values to $60. Your Choice at Use Our Easy Payment Plan. We charge no interest. Trade in your used goods. Vifeit our exchange department. It To be safe, every farmer, in February, should germinate 200 kernels of corn from 200 ears tak en at random. If i-ss than !0 per cent of these kernel crow .tronir- ;ly. it will almost certainly pay th: ! farmer a dollar an hour for his time to make a thorough ear by ; ear test of all the oars which lie ! expects lo plant. Shell tho seed corn by hand, discarding the tips and liutts. Shell each ear in a pan by itself before dumping it into the sack with the rest of the shelled ear. As you shell, note the kernel tvne. . Throw out ears the kernels of which show decided signs of starchiness or dull color on fin backs -of the kernels; also throw out ears with kernels showing blis tered germs or other signs of im maturity. Watch for moldiness around the tips of the kernels. Moi'diness is one of the most ser ious seed corn defects, and all ears showing a sign of it should be thrown out. Discard ears with shoe-peggy kernels which do not come out full and plump to the tip. Moderately large, well-ma tured kernels, with a plump tip and with a shiny, horny back, free from starch, seem associated with yielding power more than any other factors which we can tell about merely by looking at the seed. Shelling corn by hand gives the tinme required to judge the kernel type effectively. also avoids a few broken kernel although this is really not impor ant. After shellinjr. it helps a little to run the corn, over either a cheap hand grader or a cylinder machine grader. Some experi ments indicate that size of kernel is one of the most important things Is determining yield. The light, small kernels are specially likely to be poor yieldets. The oretically, therefore, the elimin ating of the small kernels with, a grader should be decidedly worth while. And, of course, kernel uniformity is of real help in get ting the best results out of the corn planter. Fertile Soil Desirable Corn does best where the soils are well drained, rich, mellow, and warm and where moisture is avail able through the growing season. Sandy river-bottom lands of the Willamette valley as well as the mellow rolling and hill soils pro duce good corn. Usually smaller and shorter-season varieties must be grown. Corn Is the rankest feeding and the most destructive of boII fertil ity of all our common crops. Only on the very richest soils can corn be grown for more than two years in succession with assurance of profit. In humid regions, con yields may be maintained or in creased by the use of (1) rota tlons, (2) barnyard manure, (3) clover, (4) crop residues, (5) good tillage, (C) commercial fer tilizers. Clot a ood Stand Plowing should be six to eight inches deep and EARLY. The seed bed is worked early and if so loose as lo cause too deep plant ing it should be rolled. Late work ing previous to planting should be a shallow harrowing to kill weeds and maintain the mulch. Late deep workings as disking or springtoothing bring up new weed seeds. Where the seed bed is in good tilth it is best to make the late workings shallow. Vhen corn is planted in cold, wet soils, germination is Blow and weak. Soil fungi attack the seed before it gets started and rot it. When planted right, in mellow, moist, warm soil, germination is prompt and the stand is good. Many people bury rather than plant their seed corn. Plant It Just deep enough to cover it in mellow moist soil. One and one half to two inches on loamy soils Is deep enough: slightly deeper is better on sandy soils. A good stand of corn usually means a good yield. No field full of miss ing or vacant hills can produce well. Poor stands are the result of: m (2) (31 (4) or wet. (5) Poorly prepared seed beds. Dead seed. Poorly graded seed. Planting when too cold Too deep planting. Harvesting the Crop When corn Is beginning to ear out it is ready for green feed, but it is better when well eared. The best silage stage is reached when the ears ahe in an advanced hard dough stage, the kernels well glazed and dented, and the husks beginning to dry. At this same stage hogging off may advantag eously begin, but the hogs must become accustomed to it as it is still somewhat immature. When husked, any soft or im mature ears should be sorted out and fed. The sound ears remain ing may be safely stored In well ventilated (slatted) and well roof ed cribs, protected from rodents, it is ininortant to remember that corn for husking should be left in the fields after maturity bo that the ears will dry out. This is true even under rainy harvest conditions. Corn Growing is Very Desirable Early corn grown for hogging off while the fields ar dry enough rtn Jl eSl J no UD U 0 Big Reductions for these three days Be Sure and get Here before These High Grade Shoes are all Gome 1SQS Ail OI mm warn LADIES' SHOES LADIES BLACK CALF, MEDIUM HEEL OXFORDS, regular $7 grades, most ail sizes, to close out, go in this sale at $3.95 LADIES' BROWN CALF OXFORDS, low heel, regular S7 grade, while they last, go at $3.95 LADIES' NEW STYLE PATENT LEATHER OX FORD, the best looking $8 value you ever saw, goes in this sale at $4.95 THE NEW BLACK AND BROWN CREASE VAMP, low heel oxford, the best selling shoe on the market, $9 values at $5.95 GREY SUEDE with black pateik leather trim Oxfords, the best $8 Value in the world; get a pair of these the first day at $4.95 NUDE OOZE wilh brown trim, regular $7 grade, most all sizes, flat heel, a wonderful value, goes at $4.95 SELBY BROWN SUEDE OXFORD, all sizes, a very new style and the best $9 value we have; we are going to close out these wonderful shoes at $5.95 GREY SUEDE with brown trim, the best $7 oxford in Salem, these go while they last at' $4.95 GREY STRAP PUMP with black trim, most all sizes, regular $8 value, to close out while they last at $4.95 TAN SUEDE with brown calf trim, two-strap, the best'. $10 value in our store; we have a few pairs, most all .. sizes, to go at $5.95 BROWN KID STRAP, a very fashionable lightweight shoe, Cuban heels, all sizes, $9 value, go in this sale at $5.95 BLACK SUEDE, patent trim, a very new pattern, Cuban heel, all sizes; get a pair the first day if yon want a"pair at $6.95 GLAZED KID STRAP, Cuban heel pump, regular $8 value, a very new style; they will be a riot $4.95 200 pairs odd sizes, odd styles, ranging in price from $8 to $12.50; a few pairs of Hanan's broken sized in the lot; take your choice j $4.95 OLD LADIES' COMFORT SHOES, all si2es and widths with dozens of styles to pick from, regular $5 and $6 values; get a pair in this sale at $3.95 MEN'S AND BOY'S SHOES BOYS' HEAVY SHOES, a good $5 value, while they last to close out go at $1.95 ROYS' DRESS SHOES, both in black and brown $5 value at $3,95 $7 value at $4.95 One lot CHILDREN'S jHIGH TOP SHOES, regular $6 values to close, out, go at $2.95 GIRLS' PATENT LEATHER SHOES, the best $5 value in the city, to close out at $2.95 MEN'S BLACK OR BROWN $7 DRESS SHOES in the very newest styles, all sizes, while they last, go at $4.95 MEN'S WORK SHOES, regular $7 and $8 values, all sizes, colors and kinds to close out quickly at $4.95 BOYS regular $7 high-top boots in both black and brown, best quality, to close out while they last at $3.95 t MEN'S BLACK AND BROWN $7 OXFORDS, all sizes ' all styles, every pair a new style; get a pair early in the sale at $4.95 RUBBER HEELS Put on every Wednesday 25 c Bring ihem in any day and leave them for Wednesday. jnxnuu SHOE SelbySljoM FoxPuip CaxBaxOit Serosa Boob VitdiElhfotr BailBadftxt 326 State&-MattDUK&wi&iaK Chiropodist Bring your foot troubles to Dr. Williams who has been practicing 13 years in Ore gon and in . Salem for 2 years. Why suffer? when he can give you instant relief- for all your foot ail ments. Results are what count. ... . By Appointment Phone 616. Hours 9 lo 5:30 i, V' 1L K