INDIANA CORN GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

465

It may do to pick seed corn from the crib in new countries where there is virgin soil to work with, but not in our State, where the land must be fed and cared for as we do our stock, if we would realize good financial results. It behooves us to make, not two stalks grow where one grew formerly, but the one stalk produce doubly the weight of corn that it did. And how can we do this? Why, by giving the most careful attention to the selection and storage of the seed. You may have your ground in the best of tilth at planting time; you may have harrows and discs and plows galore, but the foundation of your crop is the seed, and the better it can be kept the surer you are of a reward for your labor. The secret of every farm crop lies in the seed. Of course there are climatic conditions over which we have no control, which may make or mar our success, but I believe so far as human efforts are concerned that if we do our best and have the foundations good, profitable results will come. We want to get all we can from Old Mother Earth, and the best is none too good for us. We don't need to plow deeper nor plant earlier, we first want to take the proper care of our seed, after making a good selection, and we will be rewarded with crops which will grow better year after year.

STORING SEED CORN.

W. A. ALEXANDER, RUSHVILLE, IND.

This is my plan for storing seed corn, which is in substance about the same which I gave in my talk at the Association.

Gather the corn in early autumn, and I would advise, if your time is not limited, to take a basket, go into the field, and select the choicest ears. If this is not convenient, sort carefully while unloading corn in the crib, selecting the best ears. Then rick them up where they will dry immediately, and where the air can circulate freely between the rows.

The place that I use is over the driveway of my double-slat crib, which is twelve by fourteen. These cribs are 5 by 14 by 30 feet, set on stone posts about three feet above ground, being narrow and tall and above ground, so the air can circulate through it.

This crib is covered with a sheet-iron roof, and in the early fall days is as hot as an oven. As the sun shines upon it, through this, you might say the corn is kiln-dried, the only redeeming feature I find in the sheetiron roof.

The secret of corn raising is in getting good seed, that will shell not less than eighty-five per cent., let it be yellow, white or mixed, then to have it thoroughly dried before the early freezing. When once dried you need not fear the sudden changes of temperature, if kept where snow and rain can not fall upon i

30-Boar

I once had some corn attached to the crib roof of an open shed, which was exposed to the wind, which had a sweep of many miles. The thermometer dropped to twenty-eight below zero. My neighbors said my corn would be ruined, but I planted it the next spring, and do not think there was a grain amiss.

Do not put your seed corn in boxes or barrels, especially salt barrels, for the salt will damage the germ.

After shelling, keep in a dry place, as it is more susceptible to the weather after being taken from mother cobs.

REPORT

ON

FARMERS' INSTITUTES

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

Purdue UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
AGRICULTURE

FOR THE

Year Ending June 30, 1903.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

FARMERS' INSTITUTES.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.

Introductory.-The work of the year has been conducted along the lines of previous years. In addition to the usual office work of securing and assigning speakers, making up the schedule of institutes, etc., meetings were held as follows: Two district institutes were held in August, 1902, and the fifth annual conference of institute workers in October of the same year; 178 two-day institutes and three one-day dairy institutes, making a total of 184 meetings held. Nearly all of these meetings were previously arranged for, as per schedule which appears later in this report. As heretofore, two speakers were assigned to each of the two-day institutes; one speaker was sent to each of the one-day meetings. A lecturer on domestic economy was sent to thirty-eight of the two-day institutes. The average attendance at the several meetings held was somewhat reduced, as might be expected, from the greater number of meetings. This may reasonably be expected from the plan of holding supplemental institutes at outlying points; those who can attend a nearby institute will not make the same effort as heretofore to reach meetings further away.

Thus far, the plan of holding supplemental institutes at points midway between the places of annual meetings is working well, and the general management feels warranted in continuing the plan, the aim being to place these meetings at new points from year to year until meetings have been held within easy reach of every farmer in the State.

For a more complete statement of the work of the year, the reader is referred to the several divisions of this report which follow.

DISTRICT FARMERS' INSTITUTE.

A district farmers' institute for horticulturists and gardeners was held at Princeton, August 26-27, 1902. A two-day meeting of five sessions was held. The average attendance was, perhaps,. not greater than seventy-five. The weather preceding the time of meeting had delayed the maturing of the melon crop somewhat, so that the melon growers were very busy marketing their crop at the time of the meeting. This. doubtless, considerably reduced the attendance.

The character of the meeting, which was a most interesting and profitable one, will appear from the outline program given below: